After strenuous ties during the Eelam War IV, foundation was laid for a fresh relationship between Sri Lanka and Norway when President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenburg at bi-lateral discussions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.The Norwegian Prime Minister observed it was very important that President Rajapaksa was engaging in both rebuilding the country and reconciliation among communities, and said that Norway was eager to play a supporting role in the emerging situation in Sri Lanka.In discussing the situation regarding the Tamil people and the possibility of being engaged in the developing political process among them, President Rajapaksa was of the view that the problems of the Tamil people should be resolved through their leaders within the country.Mr. Eric Solheim, Norway’s Minister for the Environment and International Development expressed an interest in visiting Sri Lanka to identify areas in which the two countries could cooperate in development activity.Prime Minster Stoltenburg looked forward to continued co-operation between Sri Lanka and Norway.Norway brokered the Cease Fire Agreement in 2002 between the Sri Lankan governments. and the Tigers. However, following an attack on its mission in April 2009 reportedly by suspected LTTE sympathizers Sri Lanka had said that it was no longer feasible for Norway to act as facilitator.