President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he will revoke Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera's decision to allow women over the age of 18 to buy alcohol legally.

Samaraweera announced last week that he signed a gazette to amend a 1955 law that banned selling of alcohol to women.

The amendment to the law, announced on Wednesday, also allowed places that sell alcohol to employ women, without discrimination. 

However, addressing a UPFA election rally in Agalawatte yesterday, President Sirisena said he instructed authorities not to implement Samaraweera's decision.

"The new revision will be reversed with effect from tomorrow," Sirisena said. 

"I only got to know about this from Media, I told them to withdraw this by tomorrow” the President told cheering crowds at his election. 

With this, the decision to increase business hours of liquor shops will also be revoked.