LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhkaran signing the CFA

As soon as the parties renew their peace efforts, we will be ready to do all we can to help, minister Solheim says in a statement issued to mark the ceasefire agreement they brokered five years ago.

The government of Norway remains in regular contact with the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE,he said.

On this occasion, Norwegian Minister of Development Co-operation Erik Solheim commented that the establishment of the Ceasefire Agreement was a tremendously positive development for Sri Lanka.

"The Ceasefire Agreement allowed the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to begin negotiations on a political solution to the conflict", said Minister Solheim.

Minister Solheim said that it is the responsibility of the parties to put a stop to violence and to demonstrate the political will to reach a lasting settlement.

"It is my strong hope that both parties will recognise the need to secure the full implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement as a first step toward reaching a political solution," said Minister Solheim.

Solheim further expressed his high regard for the continued work of the Nordic civilian observer group, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, mandated by the Ceasefire Agreement.