A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court seeking a directive to reduce the security provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is contesting the forthcoming parliamentary polls. 

The petition has been filed by Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, who is named in the National List of the Nava Sama Samaja Pakshaya (New Equal Society Party), and states that the security provided to the ex-President was unfair towards the other candidates.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had also written to the Elections Commissioner stating that due to Rajapaksa entering the election foray as a candidate with the security provided to a former President, it was disadvantageous to the campaigns of other candidates. 

Meanwhile JVP candidate Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala today filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) stating that due to the former President contesting the General Election as a candidate, the privileges provided to him was a disadvantage to other candidates. 

He also says that it was in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution. 

Watagala states that the former President’s security arraignments include 105 police officers, 104 army personnel, 4 trucks, 3 Defenders, 3 Land Cruisers, 2 Cabs and 20 military vehicles including 2 buses. 

He has also been provided with another 7 vehicles including a luxury car (Mercedes-Benz), 750 litres of petrol for the VIP car, 12000 litres of diesel, Smiths Detection X-ray inspection systems, inspection gates, mine detectors and other equipment. 

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Elections Commissioner, the Kurunegala Returning Officer and the IGP have been named as respondents in the petition.