Mr. Rajapaksa, PC, is preparing a petition against the presidential election result

United National Party (UNP) says that Presidents Counsel Wijedasa Rajapaksa has received many calls since Saturday evening threatening him to stay away from representing Gen Sarath Fonseka.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told journalists in Colombo that Mr. Rajapaksa is preparing a petition, on behalf of Gen Fonseka, challenging the result of the 2010 presidential election.

"Every citizen in this country, including Sarath Fonseka, has a right to seek legal advice under the constitution," said the UNP general secretary.

General election

Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe meanwhile said that the media in Sri Lanka are under serious pressure not to publish details of the protests against Gen Fonseka's arrest.

Every citizen in this country, including Sarath Fonseka, has a right to seek legal advice under the constitution Tissa Attanayake

Preparations are underway to take special measures to prevent rigging the result of the forthcoming parliamentary elections at the counting stages, he said.

The January presidential election result declaring Mahinda Rajapaksa as the winner is rejected by the opposition as fraudulent.

Mr. Wickramasinghe added that the UNP is still in discussion with other opposition parties despite deciding to contest the elections with its Elephant symbol.