Colombo:
Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka is set to face a court martial on Tuesday by a three-member tribunal that will try the detained ex-army chief on charges of participating in politics while in office and violating military procurement procedures.
Fonseka was arrested by the army last month after he lost a January presidential election to incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva told reporters that Fonseka cannot be tried because under Sri Lanka's Army Act because he would not be considered an army officer or soldier.
Instead Fonseka would have to be tried in a civilian court, Silva said.
On the streets of Colombo, protesters rallied for Fonseka's release, holding placards reading: "Scrap Illegal Military Tribunal. Release General Immediately"
Rajapaksa and Fonseka had been allies in the successful offensive that ended the country's 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, but they split following the end of the conflict last year.
Fonseka, who led government forces in crushing the rebels before defecting to the opposition, has claimed fraud.
Despite his detention, Fonseka will contest parliamentary elections on April 8.
The court-martial will be held at the naval complex where Fonseka is detained.