By: Staff Writer
May 27, Colombo (LNW): In a significant move to deepen bilateral economic ties, the United Kingdom is enhancing its relationship with Sri Lanka through the visit of Lord Hannett of Everton, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka.
His visit to Colombo from May 25 to 28 marks his first official tour since assuming the role in January 2025, signaling renewed UK interest in supporting Sri Lanka’s trade and economic growth.
During his visit, Lord Hannett is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with key government figures, including Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister for Industry and Entrepreneurship Chathuranga Abeysinghe.
Talks will centre on strengthening trade and investment ties, addressing barriers faced by UK businesses, and promoting policy reforms to improve the ease of doing business in Sri Lanka.
Engaging extensively with the local business community, Lord Hannett will meet senior figures from both UK and Sri Lankan companies, transnational education providers, women entrepreneurs, and members of the Council for Business with Britain.
He is also set to visit several UK-affiliated enterprises operating in Sri Lanka, such as the London Stock Exchange Group, De La Rue, HSBC, Haleon, and the MAS Silueta factory.
A key highlight of the visit will be the launch of the SheTrades webpage on the Export Development Board’s (EDB) website. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the International Trade Centre and EDB, follows the establishment of the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub in March and aims to support women-led businesses seeking access to global markets.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Lord Hannett said he is eager to engage with Sri Lankan policymakers and the business community to explore new avenues for collaboration. He praised the strength of the UK-Sri Lanka education partnership, noting Sri Lanka’s position as the second-largest market for UK transnational education. He hopes to further expand UK involvement in developing Sri Lanka’s skilled workforce.
Lord Hannett also reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to backing UK enterprises looking to enter or expand in Sri Lanka, emphasizing the mutual benefits of a robust trade relationship. He highlighted the importance of reducing market access barriers and enhancing transparency to attract more British investment.
Currently, bilateral trade between the two nations stands at approximately £1.6 billion, with Sri Lanka maintaining a trade surplus. The UK remains Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market, underscoring the strategic value of this economic partnership.
