Lord Hannett of Everton, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka, is on an official visit to Colombo from May 25 to 28, his first since being appointed in January 2025
During his visit, Lord Hannett is holding talks with senior government officials including Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Industries Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe to explore trade and investment opportunities and discuss efforts to improve the ease of doing business.
He is also meeting with local and UK business leaders, education providers, and women entrepreneurs, and visiting several UK-affiliated companies such as De La Rue, HSBC, and the MAS Silueta factory.
A key highlight of the visit is the launch of the SheTrades webpage in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board, aimed at supporting women-led businesses in accessing global markets.
With bilateral trade valued at around £1.6 billion, the UK is Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market.
The UK is encouraging greater transparency and market reforms to boost investment and enhance economic ties between the two nations.
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