President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday ordered that his photographs should not be used by candidates contesting the upcoming election in their propaganda campaign.

No public official serving in security forces, Government service, corporations, boards and statutory bodies should engage in political activities, he further instructed.

Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera in a letter sent on Wednesday to all governors, ministry secretaries, district and provincial secretaries, heads of corporations, boards and statutory bodies and other heads of divisions stated that information has been received to the effect that candidates contesting the election are using the photographs of the President in their campaign, to secure service of Army officers and public officials and promise job appointments.

The President has instructed his Secretary to strictly advice relevant parties not to use his photographs in election campaigns and for public officials to refrain from engaging in political activities.

The Secretary in his letter to governors, ministry secretaries and heads of entities, with a copy to the Chairman of the Elections Commission, has instructed to ensure that all the Government officials strictly follow these orders.