Cabinet decided to unanimously revoke the recent gazette allowing women to purchase alcohol, said Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe today.
The Minister, addressing a SLFP media briefing held at SLFP Headquarters on Darley Road said that the gazette allowing extended opening hours for liquor shops was also revoked at the weekly cabinet meeting today.
The Finance Ministry on January 10 issued a gazette which overturned an outdated law that prohibited the sale of liquor to women and the employment of the women in places where alcohol is sold.
On 11 January, they also issued a gazette allowing retail shops selling liquor to be open from 8am-10pm.
Both these moves were criticized by the President over the weekend and he requested that the Finance Ministry to withdraw their previous gazettes.