Colombo, January 18 (newsin.asia): Several Sri Lankan women have filed Fundamental Rights petitions in the island’s Supreme Court challenging the revocation of two gazette notifications which permitted women to buy alcohol and work in outlets that sell or manufacture alcohol, state media reported on Thursday.
The women, including popular actress Samanalee Fonseka, have challenged the government’s decision on the grounds that the prohibition is a draconian measure that is “arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable and discriminatory towards female citizens of the Republic.”
The Petitioners state that the circumstances under which the gazette was withdrawn give rise to a reasonable apprehension about an imminent infringement of the petitioners’ right to equality and equal protection of the law guaranteed to them by Article 12 (1) of the Constitution.
The petitioners also state that any such measure would deprive the members of the female gender who have attained the requisite age specified by law from lawfully purchasing liquor, which is a legal product that can only be manufactured, distributed and sold with the express regulation and control of the State.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet, earlier this week, unanimously decided to withdraw two gazette notifications which would enable women to buy alcohol and work in shops selling or manufacturing alcohol beverages and extending the business hours of liquor shops across the island.
The decision came after President Maithripala Sirisena said last week that he would call for a reversal of the two gazette notifications issued by the Finance Ministry.
The President said he had ordered the government to withdraw the reform, which would have allowed women to work in bars without a permit and also buy alcohol.
Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry, had, last week, lifted the ban on selling alcohol to women and prohibiting women from working in places where alcohol is manufactured or sold, for the first time in nearly 60 years after it said it would amend a 1955 law.
According to the 1955 law, alcoholic drinks, including wine, could not be sold to women and women were not allowed to work in any alcoholic manufacturing outlets or retail stores.
While the previous law was not always strictly enforced, many Sri Lankan women had welcomed the change.
The Finance Ministry had also announced that it would also allow liquour shops to stay open for business till 11 pm. Currently all liquor establishments in the island have to close at 10 pm.
The Finance Ministry had also announced that it would also allow liquour shops to stay open for business till 11 pm. Currently all liquor establishments in the island have to close at 10 pm.
