New UK Trade Envoy for SL

Lord John Hannett of Everton OBE has been appointed as the new United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka.

Lord Hannett will support the UK’s trade and investment promotion objectives by engaging with senior Sri Lankan and UK stakeholders to promote market access and create opportunities for UK businesses to deliver mutual economic growth for both countries, the British High Commission said.

Speaking about this appointment, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, said: “I am delighted with the appointment of Lord Hannett as the UK’s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka. With his support, I look forward to further strengthening the bilateral trading relationship across our priority sectors of education, financial and professional services, renewable energy, and IT-enabled services. This will help drive economic growth and prosperity for both the UK and Sri Lanka. I look forward to welcoming him to Sri Lanka in the near future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Lord Hannett said he’s delighted to have been appointed as the UK’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka. 

‘This is an important role where I’ll be championing the UK’s trade relationship with Sri Lanka, helping UK businesses take advantage of the opportunities in the market to generate long-term benefits for both our countries. I look forward to building on the strong trade ties which already exist between the UK and Sri Lanka,’ he said.

Lord John Hannett, Baron Hannett of Everton, is a British trade unionist and Labour life peer with a long career advocating for workers’ rights. Recognised for his contributions to the economy, he was appointed OBE in 2020 and created a life peer in 2024. In the House of Lords, he continues to champion workers’ rights, economic fairness, and labour policy.

Trade Envoys are at the forefront of strengthening trade and investment relationships with key markets whilst simultaneously promoting British business interests in these locations.

Trade Envoys play an integral role in the UK Government’s growth mission by helping to create opportunities for UK business to compete abroad, break into new markets and attract greater inward investment from their markets.

They complement the work of Ambassadors, High Commissioners and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners in their respective markets by engaging with host governments, leading trade delegations, hosting inward delegations, meeting businesses in the UK and in market and lobbying on market access issues.