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.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) requested the government not to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) on food items consumed by the general public and education services, according to a May Day resolution..
The government decided to remove the VAT exemptions on private health services, education and the telecommunications in its budget but TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran told the Daily Mirror that his party would adopt a resolution calling on the government not to impose taxes on the education sector and essential food items..

Sri Lanka has again denied holding discussions with India regarding the proposed sea bridge between Tamil Nadu and the Tamil North-East. Government spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne told Xinhua that despite media reports saying that discussions between the two countries were ongoing, there had been no talks. "Formally and informally, no talks have been held. We have not entered into any talks with India on this subject," he said. In April, Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said that discussions were held. "The project is under consideration, it is under discussion. But nothing has been finalised," he said.

Recalling the protracted process of her husband's release from the Sri Lankan government's 'rehabilitation' programme, the wife of Krishnapillai Kalainesan, the former head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) intelligence wing in Batticaloa who was arrested on Monday, wiped away tears, asking if it was right of the government of 'good governance' to do such a thing.

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) arrested the leader of the ITAK youth wing over messages that he had reportedly sent to diaspora Tamils on Facebook.

Subramaniyam Sivakaran was detained under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act last week, before being released on bail.

Mr Sivakaran’s private Facebook messages with Tamils living outside of the island were reportedly cited by Sri Lankan police as why the youth leader was detained under anti-terrorism legislation.

It is not yet known how the Sri Lankan police gained access to Mr Sivakaran's Facebook account or the number of social media accounts the government is monitoring.

The Sri Lankan government declared firearms amnesty to collect weapons that had gone missing after the military had recovered them from the LTTE, has so far retrieved 84 weapons from the South.

Guns were collected from Puttalam, Ratnapura, Kandy, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Gampaha and Colombo.

None have been reported from the Tamil North-East of the island.