With the Presidential election scheduled for September 21, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification calling upon the Armed Forces to maintain public order across the country with effect from August 27.

This measure mobilises the Army, Navy and Air Force to ensure security and order during the crucial period leading up to the election.

The directive involves the Army, Navy and Air Force overseeing public order in the Administrative Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaithivu, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Puttalam and their adjacent territorial waters, as well as in the districts of Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Moneragala, Ratnapura and Kegalle.