The UNP's State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran has pledged to build a memorial hall in Mullivaikkal, despite government opposition to public Tamil remembrance of the war dead.

“In remembrance of the 100,00 people who were massacred in the war, a memorial hall will be constructed at Mullivaikal with the support of Northern Provincial Council. I will accomplish this within the next five years.” the Tamil MP for Jaffna said.

“Nobody can oppose the construction of the memorial hall in remembrance of our deceased relatives. I do not care, even if I am dismissed.” she added.

A protest held in Amparai earlier today, highlighting ongoing arrests and abductions by the government, was interrupted by a mob led by a Buddhist monk, Ceylonews reports.

Protestors urged the government to stop terrorising the North-East with the detentions, urged the release of those arrested and to stop abducting those it wants to detain.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has visited an infamous torture site used by the Sri Lankan military, reports The Island.

The presidential commission on missing persons has requested President Sirisena to extend its mandate in order to complete inquiries in the east, after it had finished its investigation in the North last week.

The commission was initially due to run until May 15, with the report due to be released in July.

Reports of the commission encouraging relatives to accept their loved ones have died have been ongoing, with evidence that officials offered chickens in exchange for accepting a death certificates.

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said the “President, Prime Minister and the Government will never allow anyone to influence national security or sovereignty of the country,” at a military ceremony on Saturday.

The minister added that the Sri Lankan government had “gained the confidence of the international community” and praised called on the attendees to “rise as one”.

Thousands of Tamils took part in rallies in Jaffna and Kilinochchi on Sunday organised by the Tamil National Alliance and the Tamil National People's Front, as part of events across the world to mark May Day.

In Jaffna TNA leader R Sampanthan was joined by ITAK president Mavai Senathirajah and other parliamentarians at a rally that started in Inuvil with red and yellow flag waving participants.

The event sparked controversy after TNA coalition members, PLOTE, EPRLF and TELO did not participate, leaving only ITAK members at the event. The ITAK MP S Sritharan was also absent, attending an event in London instead.

Meanwhile many attended another rally that took place in Kilinochchi, organised by P Ayngaranesan. Thousands of attended, including dozens of vehicles participating in the rally.

Tamils living in cities across Europe took part in May Day rallies on Sunday, calling for justice for the Tamil people.

As part of demonstrations in Britain, Germany, France, Norway and Switzerland, Tamils marched in rallies denouncing massacres committed by the Sri Lankan state and called for justice and accountability.

See photos from the various rallies below.