Sri Lanka has made headlines this past week because its president ordered Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to revoke his decision last week to overturn the 1979 law prohibiting the sale of any type of alcohol to women. Sirisena's office said in a statement.

which added that the status quo will be restored but offered no explanation.

"From tomorrow (Monday), the minister's order will be rescinded."

The reversal comes after a finance ministry official told AFP Samaraweera had revoked the 39-year-old law in an effort to strike bills from the statute books. Ministry spokesman Ali Hassen said of the decision Wednesday to roll back the ban:

"The idea was to restore gender neutrality."

But last week's decision to relax laws on alcohol provoked a backlash in some quarters of the majority-Buddhist nation of 21 million people. This law has made us take a look at some strange laws that only affect one gender. Here goes:

Egypt

Egyptian law protects honour killings. If the husband catches his wife committing adultery and kills her on the spot, the law states that he will be punished with detention instead of stricter penalties prescribed for other murders.

Japan

According to the Civil Code of Japan, a man is free to marry once he turns 18, but a girl can marry once she turns 16.

Chile

Husbands are responsible for the spouses’ joint property in Chile, as well as property belonging to the wife.

The Philippines

Prostitution is a crime only women can commit.

Singapore

Marital rape is not a criminal offense in most cases if the girl is over the age of 13.

Malta

The penalty for abduction is reduced if the perpetrator intends to marry the victim

Japan

Women cannot remarry for six months after the dissolution or annulment of the marriage

India

A man is allowed to rape his wife as long as she is 15 years of age and older.

Madagascar

In Madagascar, the Labor Code states that women are not allowed to be employed at night in any “industrial establishment... except for establishments where the only ones employed therein are members of one same family.”