By: Staff Writer
February 02, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka–United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London (SLUKCC), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom, hosted a high-level panel discussion aimed at strengthening bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Titled “Building Stronger Trade Bridges between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom,” the event was held at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on 27 January 2026 and attracted more than 40 representatives from business, government and industry.
Opening the forum, SLUKCC President Eranga Pathirage highlighted the Chamber’s growing role in facilitating commercial engagement between Sri Lanka and the UK. He noted that SLUKCC continues to serve as a vital platform linking enterprises, institutions and communities, working closely with the High Commission and UK stakeholders to convert commercial interest into concrete trade, investment and service-sector partnerships.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK, Nimal Senadheera, emphasised the UK’s importance as Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination and a long-standing economic partner. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to expanding economic cooperation with the UK, describing the relationship as one that extends beyond trade to long-term investment and innovation collaboration.
The High Commissioner encouraged Sri Lankan exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to take full advantage of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). He pointed out that the scheme offers enhanced market access and noted the recent relaxation of Rules of Origin requirements for apparel exports, effective from January 2026, which is expected to significantly benefit Sri Lankan manufacturers.
Delivering the keynote address, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka, Lord John Hannett OBE of Everton, outlined emerging opportunities across trade, investment and modern value chains. He stressed the importance of close coordination between the public and private sectors to unlock sustainable, long-term commercial partnerships. Lord Hannett also urged businesses to leverage institutional platforms such as SLUKCC to explore new areas of cooperation and maximise the benefits of existing trade frameworks.
The discussion was moderated by SLUKCC Director Simon Culhane and featured a distinguished panel including Ambassador Senadheera, Lord Hannett, Board of Investment Chairman Arjuna Herath, Global Sourcing Association CEO Kerry Hallard, and Marks and Spencer UK PLC Head of Finance Suraj Wijendra.
Concluding the event, participants engaged in a lively question-and-answer and networking session. Key themes included Sri Lanka’s strategic position as a regional gateway to Asia, opportunities in tourism, IT and business process outsourcing, skilled labour availability, and prospects linked to the Colombo Port City project. The forum underscored renewed momentum to strengthen Sri Lanka–UK economic ties and expand collaboration across global value chains.
