Mr. Rajapaksa, who evaded the SLFP National Convention, is currently on a tour of Europe.

He could not be arrested in Europe on earlier occasions because he enjoyed diplomatic immunity as a head of state.

However, during his last visit to UK, Mr. Rajapaksa and his entourage secretly returned to Sri Lanka on the instructions of Scotland Yard police, after the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and the British Tamils Forum (BTF) sought a warrant to arrest Rajapaksa.

However, the entourage had left for Sri Lanka by the time the arrest warrant was sought.

But the petition remains undismissed at the Westminster Magistrates' Court and if the warrant is re-sought, there is a high possibility of it being granted, 'Lanka News Web' adds.

The website further says that Mahinda could face a tight spot as the EU is obliged to act accordingly if an UK court issues an arrest warrant.