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by Ravi Ladduwahetty

The Government will shortly bring in legislation to effect round-the-clock shopping for consumers for all key products similar to the mall concept in developed countries, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Ravi Karunanayake told the Daily News yesterday.

This scheme will be extended to banking, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and a host of other products so that the country will be able to accelerate its development process, the Minister said.

This decision to bring in legislation in this direction was based on the success story of the opening of the CWE shops on a round-the-clock basis and thereby competing with the private sector, he explained.

He also said that the response to the decision is overwhelming and people who were earlier coy to be associated with shopping at CWE shops are now visiting them. " This move should also motivate the private sector supermarkets to follow suit," he noted.

The CWE shops have become a thriving success soon after they were opened round the clock from January 3. Sales on the opening day had increased by Rs. 7 million, the second day by Rs. 8 million and the third day by Rs. 15 million. Now the daily average turnover is around Rs. 15 million, he said.

This concept of night shopping has also had a series of spin off benefits which includes other ancillary vocations such as the making of hoppers, vadai, and other fast foods. Therefore, the benefits of income generation will also be there, he added.

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