President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered that his photographs and images not be used by candidates contesting the upcoming general election in their propaganda campaigns. The President’s Media Division (PMD) said the President has further instructed that public officials serving in the security forces, government services, corporations, boards, and statutory bodies refrain from engaging in political activities. Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, in a letter sent to all governors, ministry secretaries, district and provincial secretaries, heads of corporations, boards, statutory bodies, and other heads of divisions, has stated that information has been received to the effect that candidates contesting the election are using photographs of the President in their campaigns, securing the services of Army officers and public officials and promising job appointments. The President has instructed his Secretary to strictly advise the relevant parties not to use the photograph of the President in election campaigns and 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 Election Commission (EC), has instructed them to ensure that all government officials strictly follow these directives.