Colombo, March 11 (IANS) Sri Lanka's former army chief, General Sarath Fonseka, arrested after losing the country's January presidential contest, will face court martial next week, it was announced Thursday.

Fonseka will face several charges under the Army Act, an army spokesperson said.

The charges against Fonseka include engaging in politics while serving in the army and violating norms to procure weapons, according to a statement released by the government.

The trials will be held March 16 and 17 at the Navy Headquarters where Fonseka has been detained since Feb 8.

He was arrested on charges of conspiring to topple the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who routed Fonseka in the Jan 26 election.

Once friends, Rajapaksa and Fonseka fell out after the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May last year.