REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MATARA -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged to protect the hard won victory against the Tamil Tigers against what he termed as "international interference "on Sunday referring to a proposed UN probe into allegations of war crimes.

Sri Lanka's government celebrated the fifth year anniversary since the end of a brutal three decade war with a massive military parade in the southern town of Matara presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Nearly 4,000 army, 1,189 navy, 1,100 air force, 643 police and 578 civil defense personnel took part in the parade. About 116 army vehicles also joined in with a sail past of about 40 ships and craft of the navy and a flyby with about 35 air force aircraft entertaining government, diplomats and public at the event.

Over 24,000 members of the security forces who died in the war were remembered by observing two minutes silence at the commencement of the state ceremony.

Despite the end of the war, the Sri Lankan government has been dogged by accusations of alleged war crimes.

In March, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution backed by the U.S. calling for a UN investigation into the allegations insisting human rights of minorities in Sri Lanka are under threat and censoring the government for not fostering peace and reconciliation.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika