The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka, Lord Hannett of Everton, will visit Colombo from June 17 to 19, 2026, marking his second visit to the country within a year as efforts continue to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations.
According to the British High Commission in Colombo, Lord Hannett’s visit will include a series of high-level engagements with government representatives and business leaders to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, Lord Hannett is scheduled to meet Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, and senior officials of the Export Development Board and the Department of Commerce. Discussions are expected to focus on Sri Lanka’s ongoing reform agenda, improving market access for UK businesses, and expanding opportunities under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers preferential access for Sri Lankan exports.
The UK Trade Envoy will also hold discussions with senior business leaders, including representatives of the Council for Business with Britain, to exchange views on investment confidence and emerging commercial opportunities.
Lord Hannett will visit several UK-linked businesses in Sri Lanka
As part of his programme, Lord Hannett will visit several UK-linked businesses and institutions operating in Sri Lanka, including HSBC, Unilever, Coats Thread Exports, the Land Rover showroom and service centre operated by Access Motors, Ryse Energy, and The Body Shop. He is also expected to engage with representatives from the apparel industry, small and medium-sized exporters, young entrepreneurs, and the higher education sector.
Ahead of the visit, Lord Hannett said he looked forward to meeting government and business stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening collaboration, supporting growth, and creating new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
He noted that the UK remains committed to supporting British businesses overseas while encouraging stronger trade links with Sri Lanka. He also expressed interest in hearing directly from businesses in sectors such as education, clean energy, retail, manufacturing, and technology, as well as young entrepreneurs who will play a key role in Sri Lanka’s future economic growth.
Lord Hannett further highlighted the opportunities available under the recently reformed DCTS, particularly for Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, which stands to benefit significantly from enhanced zero-tariff access to the UK market.
The British High Commission said the visit will showcase the breadth of UK commercial interests in Sri Lanka and underline the contribution made by British brands and investors to employment, skills development, innovation, and economic growth. The UK also continues to encourage Sri Lanka to improve the ease of doing business through greater policy stability and regulatory transparency, which could help attract further trade and investment.
