COLOMBO :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.
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:
“I’m 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.”
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.
OFFICIAL – FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL – FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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
and lobbying on market access issues

February 2, 2025
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