Solidar's Sri Lanka Consortium originated in the backdrop of a collective humanitarian response made by three European non-governmental organisations to perhaps the worst natural disaster in living memory.In the chaotic aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, three Solidar Network members - Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) , Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) and Swiss Labour Assistance (SAH) formed a consortium in a bid to effectively coordinate emergency assistance efforts which otherwise would have been implemented individually by these three members. With support galvanized from other Solidar Network members such as FOS, Solidarite Socialiste, Volkshilfe, Progetto Sviluppo, Apheda, La Ligue de L 'enseignement and Solidarite Laique, together with generous funding provided by a diverse network of donors, the Consortium was able to come to the assistance of thousands of beleaguered populations. Since then, the Solidar Sri Lanka consortium has grown with strength, implementing a country-wide programme of assistance spanning coastal belt from the district of Jaffna in Point Pedro to the district of Matara in Dondra Head.

The Consortium is an integrated programme in which member organizations share office space, personnel, resources, knowledge, expertise and funding. Pre-tsunami, the in-country experience of the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) and Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB), together with experience gained through the implementation of a joint post-tsunami programme have provided a sound launching pad for the focus of contributions to humanitarian assistance and the longer-term socio-economic requirements of the country.