United Nations Volunteers was created by the UN General Assembly in 1971 at the request of UN Member Countries in order to be a development partner for the UN system. UNV harnesses volunteerism for effective development, and promotes the benefits of civic engagement in development programmes. Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is entrusted with providing technical assistance to develop volunteerism, and mobilizing volunteers nationally and internationally.

Presently there are 60 UNV volunteers from 18 countries working in Sri Lanka spread over six out of the nine provinces in the country (Western, Central, Northern, Eastern, North Western, and Southern provinces). The volunteers assist the work of UN Agencies, the Government of Sri Lanka Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations and Community-Based Organizations. They work as specialists in programme /project development, transport and vehicle fleet management, health services, monitoring and reporting, disaster risk management and environment, urban rehabilitation and reconstruction, information and communication technology, database development, human rights and administration and management. Another 36 volunteers are expected to join the programme in Sri Lanka in the near future through a pipeline partnership with UNDP and WHO.

Sri Lankan nationals also play a pivotal role in the international UNV programme, with over 70 Sri Lankans currently working overseas as volunteers. Another 60 have been placed on the global UNV roster and are awaiting deployment. Within 48 hours of after the tsunami disaster the first group of UNV Disaster Risk Management and other specialists from India, Kenya and Laos were deployed to affected districts. Additionally, serving national UNV volunteers in different projects around the island were redeployed on a temporary basis to assist in the coordination of relief. These efforts continued into the post tsunami recovery and development processes.

In 2008/2009, UNV will refocus attention on mobilizing national volunteers and strengthening mechanisms that will facilitate the promotion, networking and recognition of volunteerism as a contributor to peace and development reference.