Ranil Jayawardena was first elected as the Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire in May 2015, and was re-elected in 2017 and 2019. When not serving in government, was appointed to the International Trade Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, most recently in 2023.
He previously served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2022, having served as Minister for International Trade from 2020 to 2022, and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2020. Before serving as a Minister, Ranil had been appointed to by Mr Speaker to the Chairman's Panel.
North East Hampshire is Ranil’s home. He grew up in Hook, and went to Hook Infants and Juniors, prior to Robert May’s in Odiham and Alton College. Before his election to Parliament, he was a Councillor, serving as Deputy Leader of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane, part of which is within the constituency. An alumnus of London School of Economics, he combined his service in local government with working for Lloyds Banking Group plc and is a Freeman of the City of London. He also has wide ranging commercial experience from the pharmaceutical, construction, transport and leisure sectors.
Ranil now lives in Bramley, in the north of the constituency, with his wife, son and daughters. In his spare time, Ranil likes watching cricket, tennis and rugby.