Supreme Court on Tuesday is to consider a Fundamental Rights petition in which former president Mahinda Rajapaksa is a respondent.

However, reliable sources told Asian Mirror that he would not be present at the Supreme Court in person and will be represented by lawyers.

The petition was filed by Frontline Socialist Party Politburo Member and presidential candidate Duminda Nagamuwa. He alleged that the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has violated the Provisions of the Civil Security Act by stationing teams of security personnel belonging to the three Armed Forces during the period of the Presidential Election and in the early hours of January 9.

The petitioner further stated that the President as the Head of the Armed Forces has the powers to station Armed Forces in various parts of the country only if there is a likelihood of an emergence of uneasiness causing trouble to the public. However, the former president stationed armed forces although there was no threat of such uneasiness.

On February 18, a Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice K. Sripavan considered the petition and issued notice on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa returnable on March 31.