Senior Presidential advisor and head of the Presidential Task Force Basil Rajapaksa, MP said that those who unduly criticize and exert pressure on the government to resettle the IDPs without delay should come and see for themselves how dangerous and time-consuming the process of demining is.

"I would wish to invite those who criticize the government while living overseas to refrain from doing so and take the time off to visit Sri Lanka to understand the ground realities. The LTTE has heavily mined these areas with an assortment of explosive devices to prevent the people being resettled", he said.

The senior Presidential advisor said so in touring the newly liberated areas of Murunkan and Adampan in the North in the company of several senior Ministers recently to monitor the progress made in demining and to motivate those deployed to carry out the process with the least possible delay.

Meanwhile Presidential Secretariat sources said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is very concerned that the IDPs should be resettled without any delay in their former areas and convened a meeting of senior Ministers in Government and directed the officials to expedite the de-mining process.

Among those who accompanied the Senior Presidential Advisor were the Governor of the Northern Province Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, Ministers Milroy Fernando, S. M. Chandrasena, Neomal Perera, Presidential Advisor, former IGP Chandra Fernando, Senior DIG Mahinda Balasuriya and other officials.

Rajapaksa observed the demining process and spoke to those from the Engineers Regiment of the Army, several non governmental organizations and Indian organizations who were deployed in Murunkan and Adampan areas to carry out the de-mining.