Photograph DailyNews.lk

In a defiant speech as crowds gathered for the ruling UPFA May Day rally, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said "we are unbowed", pledging to resist any foreign force trying to change the government, as Sri Lanka's political parties, marked May Day yesterday.

UPFA May Day rally. Photograph Hiru.lk

“We will never bow down and no one can make us bow down,” President Rajapaksa said to applauding crowds gathered at the party's May Day event, which was led by the SLFP, at Borella yesterday.

“No treacherous element in the country or foreign force can change the government as long as the working masses are with the government,” Sri Lanka's state media, Daily News, quoted him as saying.

Accusing the opposition UNP of "working overnight to make use of the working masses in the North and South to implement what imperialist forces want to see in the country," he said that "they had started created these problems when the UNHRC session in Geneva was going on".

UNP May Day rally in Ampara. Photograph SundayTimes.lk

The UNP May Day rally, led by Karu Jayasuriya whilst party leader was away in the USA, took place in Ampara.

In trademark green, holding a banner in Sinhala, party members and supporters marched from the Grounds Junction to the Clock Tower, accusing the government of corruption whilst the people were suffering.

Sarath Fonseka leads Democratic Party's May Day rally. Photograph SundayTimes.lk

Sarath Fonseka, the leader of the Democratic Party, took part in his party's May Day procession, led by Buddhist monks, at Buddadasa playground in Pelawatte.

JVP May Day rally in Colombo. Photograph SundayTimes.lk

The JVP, in a sea of red and a series of floats, held its rally in BRC grounds in Colombo. Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka accused the government of failing the workers of the island, who were suffering whilst the ministers and their families lived comfortably.