After US President-elect Joe Biden announced Antony Blinken as his pick for Secretary of State, we take a look at his previous comments on Sri Lanka, his internationalist and interventionist position and his remarks on American global leadership.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested at least seven persons, including women and children, who tried to flee the island and escape to India by way of sea through Mannar on Saturday.  

Five persons, including a 29 year old man, a 29 year old woman, a 38 year old woman and two 9 year old female children, were arrested by the navy in the waters near Pesalai village in Mannar. Further, two men, one aged 32 and the other 37, were arrested on charges of arranging the travel for those trying to leave the country. 

Tamils across France have left tributes for a Tamil family after a Tamil woman and four children were murdered on October 3rd in the Parisian neighbourhood of Noisy-le-Sec

The man accused of the massacre, said to be the husband, father and uncle of the deceased; is alleged to have killed his wife, his 18 month old and 5 year old children, and his 9 year old and 11 year old nephews. The sister and brother-in-law of the accused as well as two other of their children (13 & 15 years old) managed to survive the attack.

The former head of Sri Lanka’s army Sarath Fonseka stated in parliament that he “would have been delighted” if cyclone Burevi had occurred during Maaveerar Naal last week, as storms and rains battered the Tamil North-East.

Cyclone Burevi, which has severely hit the Tamil occupied North-East, has impacted tens of thousands of people across the Tamil homeland, destroying homes and displacing families.

As Cyclone Burevi continues to ravage coastal areas of the North-East and Tamil Nadu, a torrential rainfall yesterday deluged the city of Jaffna, blocking movement and causing severe damages to residential areas and businesses. 

A great number of houses, businesses and farmlands located at a low altitude have already submerged under water as a result of heavy downpours throughout the week. 

Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology has excavated 650 monuments in Batticaloa, under the supervision of the Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management.

Senarathe Dissanayake, director-general of archaeology, noted that this was the first time an extensive excavation was conducted in Batticaloa district in the 125-year history of the department.

A Tamil woman has demanded the release of her husband, who was arrested by Sri Lankan authroties last week after allegedly posting an image of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on his Facebook page.

Sri Lankan police in Vaharai arrested 30-year-old Kumaradasar Vijayadasar on November 27^th, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He was taken from his home during dinner and initially questioned on the road of his residence.

The Sri Lankan police in Mannar have interrogated four persons who conducted a press conference ahead of Maaveerar Naal on November 25.

Four people, including head of the Organisation for the Right to Life of Tamil Nation V.S. Sivakaran, organized a press conference on November 25 following the ban on the commemoration of the remembrance by the Mannar Magistrate Court.

Sri Lanka’s new minister of public security boasted that military intelligence networks have been “strengthened” and “back on track” in a wide ranging interview, as he once again reiterated his calls for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to be banned.

The Sri Lankan military has arrested at least 4 Tamils in Kilinochchi this week, accusing them of possessing explosives and ammunition, amidst a crackdown in the North-East.

The arrest comes as the military stepped up arrests and raids in the run up to Maaveerar Naal last week, a day which was marked by Tamils around the world to commemorate those who died in the Tamil liberation struggle.