Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) is one of Norway's largest non-governmental organisations, founded in 1939 by the Norwegian labour movement. Based upon the principles of solidarity, unity, human dignity, peace and freedom, NPA is involved in more than 400 projects in 30 countries. Internationally, NPA has provided humanitarian and political support to help people fight for freedom and justice. In the 90's NPA entered into a new field of operations, mine clearing activities. Today, NPA is one of the major NGO operators in this field of work. The Norwegian government is a partner in both our national and international work. NPA has developed a broad spectrum of mine action capacities that incorporate survey, mine awareness, mechanical mine clearance and the use of mine dogs to the solid foundation of its manual mine clearance teams. NPA continues to develop innovative methodologies and sustainable clearance techniques to make mine action more effective whilst politically targeting the landmine problem by exerting pressure on all those concerned to obtain a ban on landmines under the Ottawa Treaty.

NPA Mine Action has an ongoing Mine Clearance Programme which is being conducted in the North and North East of Sri Lanka and it is funded by a combination of International Donors, mainly the Norwegian Government (NMFA) and the Japanese Government (ODA). Majority of operations are conducted from Kilinochchi where funding and support is given to the Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU). The Programme also supports the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Mine Action Mini-Flail clearance machine, and has given technical support and funding to other Demining Agencies operating in Sri Lanka to date (Indian NGOs; Horizon and Savatra, and the national Demining NGO, MMIPE). The Programme has been ongoing in Sri Lanka since June 2002. The Mine Action Programme operates from the national head office based in Colombo and has Field Bases located at Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. The programme operates under the strict guidance of, and reports directly to the Sri Lankan National Steering Committee for Mine Action (NSCMA), which is responsible to the line ministry Nation Building and Development (NBD). All clearance conducted is compliant to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and the statistics recorded in IMSMA.

The Workers' Samaritan Federation (ASB) is an aid and welfare organisation comprising 16 sub national and around 250 branches at municipal, district and regional level as well as more than 100 non-profit associations throughout Germany. Ever since its establishment in 1888, humanitarian and democratic principles have been the basis of ASB's activities in Germany and abroad. ASB has no political or religious affiliation and receives support from more than 1.1 million members in Germany

To complement its mission in rescue services- extending from emergency rescue to disaster protection- ASB's tasks cover care for the elderly, child and youth services, assistance for disabled people as well as education and further training for adults.

ASB extended its mission to foreign aid in the 1980s and at present is actively engaged in emergency aid, rehabilitation and long - term development projects in Africa, Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe.

ASB has been present in Sri Lanka since 2003 actively engaged in addressing health issues, helping those affected by floods and other natural disasters, and promoting long term peace. In the aftermath of the tsunami, ASB joined forces with NPA kick starting an emergency relief assistance programme.