Sir 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, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2020, and a Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy from 2018 to 2019. Before serving as a Minister, Sir Ranil had been appointed to by Mr Speaker to the Chairman’s Panel.
Hampshire is Sir Ranil’s home. He grew up in Hook, and went to local state schools — Hook Infants and Juniors, Robert May’s in Odiham and Alton College. His first steps in elected politics were as a local Councillor, serving his village, but ultimately serving as Deputy Leader of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane — part of which is within the North East Hampshire constituency he later represented in Parliament.
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.
Outside of Parliament, from his local church – where he has remained on the PCC throughout his time in elected politics – to serving as President of Bramshill Scout District, he continues to help those who help others. He is particularly keen to support children and families, so continues to support organisations like Sasha’s Project in Fleet, and to have become a School Governor in Hartley Wintney.
Sir Ranil was knighted by HM The King in the 2025 New Year Honours for political and public service. He continues to live in Bramley, in the north of Hampshire, with his wife, son and daughters. In his spare time, Sir Ranil enjoys watching cricket, tennis and rugby.