SDC established its presence in Sri Lanka in 2003 with a Cooperation Office in Colombo and a Field Office in Jaffna.

The activities of SDC are based on the Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Sri Lanka,
'The Swiss Medium Term Programme II 2010-2012' which has been jointly developed by SDC (Humanitarian Aid, Regional Cooperation and Global Cooperation) and Political Division IV (Human Security) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and the Swiss Embassy.

An ongoing cash project is directly implemented by SDC Jaffna and supports 300 returnee families in their effort to rehabilitate their houses and communal infrastructure which had been completely destroyed by the conflict. An additional component aims to focus on livelihood development through income generation. An ongoing school rehabilitation programme in Jaffna, under which 18 schools have been built/reconstructed up to now, is also implemented by SDC Jaffna.

Switzerland supports multilateral humanitarian partners like ICRC, UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP financially and with the deployment of experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to play a key role in providing basic relief and protection to the civilian populations from the former conflict zone in the Vanni Region. Co-funding is also provided for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the field of shelter and livelihoods, and for de-mining, through partnerships with INGOs. SDC further funds national humanitarian and development initiatives through small grants schemes. The close collaboration and cooperation with local and international NGOs and the Government of Sri Lanka contributes to an efficient and effective provision of relief aid and long-term development processes.

Whereas the Regional Cooperation Programme phases out in Sri Lanka by the end of 2010, a new ‘Global Migration Programme’ is being set up. The Global Migration Programme in Sri Lanka focuses on the ‘Rights and Socio-economic Support of Migrant Workers in Sri Lanka’, and aims at supporting the effective implementation of the Sri Lanka National Migration Policy.