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CoL makes me jump into the sea: CBK
 President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday told a public rally that she felt like jumping into the sea due to the soaring world oil prices which had an impact on the lives of the people.

The President addressing a public rally at the Anuradhapura indoor stadium said the government was facing difficulties due to the increasing fuel prices and that the Government was still subsidising diesel and kerosene.

She said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was running at a loss of nearly Rs. 27,000 million rupees while the Ceylon Electricity Board was running at a loss of around Rs. 26,000 million.

"This is something we have to bear. The Government does not pluck money from trees. Instead, loans are taken from banks and then interest accumulates which will then result in inflation," said the President.

"Somehow we will do our best to increase the salaries of public servants in this year's budget to enable them to face the rising cost of living. With the increase in salaries some traders will jack up prices. And when that happens don't scold me. I know that the people in the villages don't do such things but in Colombo they take everything for granted," she said.
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