COLOMBO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday instructed the island country's armed forces to beef up security in all parts of the country ahead of the Nov. 16 presidential election.

In a special gazette notification issued, President Sirisena said under the powers vested in him, he had instructed the armed forces to maintain public order in 25 districts including capital Colombo.

Public order will be maintained in the administrative districts and the territorial water adjacent to the districts.

Sirisena last week also instructed the authorities to provide maximum security for the presidential candidates contesting in the upcoming presidential polls.

The Elections Commission said 35 candidates will be contesting the Nov. 16 polls which will see an estimated 16 million people casting their votes.

Some of the leading presidential candidates include Sajith Premadasa from the ruling United National Front and Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the main opposition who was the former defense secretary.

Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said results of the presidential election will be declared on Nov. 18 due to a record-breaking 35 candidates in the upcoming polls.