Colombo today said that as demining process progresses, the bulk of the war displaced Tamil civilians will be resettled before the end of January 2010, the target set by the Government of Sri Lanka to complete this challenging task. Briefing the diplomatic corps , the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollogama said that 108,757 displaced civilians have been resettled as of today, and those remaining, numbering to about 158,990 are awaiting resettlement in the coming weeks. He emphasized that while there is a concern for the speedy resettlement the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), their safety is also of paramount importance as there are an estimated number of 1.5 million landmines and unexploded ordnance which contaminate an area of 402 square kilometers in Northern Sri Lanka. According to him, the Sri Lankan Army was responsible for 70% of the total area cleared so far, however, 7 INGOs and several NGOs are also assisting in this process. He said that the de mining is being carried out under strict conditions to ensure that these areas will be completely out of danger for civilians after resettlement. Foreign Minister also informed the diplomatic corps that those being resettled are being provided with dry rations, essential items and funds to give them a head start. He said that the Government will provide 02 acres of land for ploughing, free seed paddy, fertilizer subsidies and equipment for farming to the returnees as well. Meanwhile, Colombo is ready to respond to the notice served by the European Commission on the alleged charges of human rights violations during the war with LTTE after which the European Union will decide on the continuance of the tariff concessions to the tune of 100 million US dollars provided to the textile and apparel industry of Sri Lanka. The deadline for the explanation expires tomorrow. Disclosing this, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in a press interaction said that Colombo will adhere to the deadline and the letter from the Sri Lankan side will be handed over to the EC tomorrow.The EC report should be a matter of serious concern to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government and the island nation’s precarious economic situation. If EC suspends the concessions, it would be a huge blow to the economy and would affect at least one lakh estimated workers in this field.Earlier, the European Commission (EC) had served notice to Sri Lanka to explain by November 6 charges of human rights violations and torture in the war against the LTTE which concluded in May or face prospects of temporary withdrawal of an estimated USD$ 100 million concessions on exports from textile industry of the island nation.Responding to another query, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said that the Sri Lanka born US citizen, Raj Rajaratnam , who was arrested by the US authorities last month was a ‘leading fund raiser and activist of LTTE’ .Rajaratnam and his fellow alleged conspirators were accused of earning 20 million US dollars from illegal trading in what US media reports said was the biggest-ever hedge fund insider dealing scheme.Meanwhile, in a press statement Co-ordinator Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran said that Advisory Committee for the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam is making arrangements to hold elections in April 2010