Ranil Jayawardena

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable

| name = Sir Ranil Jayawardena

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Ranil Jayawardena official portrait (cropped).jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2022

| office = Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

| primeminister = Liz Truss

| term_start = 6 September 2022

| term_end = 25 October 2022

| predecessor = George Eustice

| successor = Thérèse Coffey

| office1 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade

| primeminister1 = Boris Johnson

| term_start1 = 5 May 2020

| term_end1 = 6 September 2022

| predecessor1 = Office established

| successor1 = James Duddridge

| office2 = Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party

| leader2 = Boris Johnson

| term_start2 = 13 February 2020

| term_end2 = 5 May 2020

| predecessor2 = Paul Scully

| successor2 = Lee Rowley

| office3 = Member of Parliament
for North East Hampshire

| term_start3 = 7 May 2015

| term_end3 = 30 May 2024

| predecessor3 = James Arbuthnot

| successor3 = Alex Brewer

| majority3 =

| office4 = Councillor of the Borough of
Basingstoke and Deane

| term_start4 = 5 May 2008

| term_end4 = 11 May 2015

| birth_name = Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|9|3|df=yes}}

| birth_place = London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Conservative

| spouse = {{marriage|Alison Lyn Jayawardena|2011}}

| children = 3

| signature =

| residence = Bramley, Hampshire, England

| alma_mater = London School of Economics

| website = {{URL|www.ranil.uk|Official website}}

| termend = 25 October 2022

}}

Sir Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena{{cite web|url=https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/content/page/39310/Declaration%20of%20Results%20-%20North%20East%20Hampshire.pdf|title=Declaration of Results|page=1|publisher=Electoral Commission|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918020811/https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/content/page/39310/Declaration%20of%20Results%20-%20North%20East%20Hampshire.pdf|archive-date=18 September 2017}} (born 3 September 1986) is a British Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Hampshire from 2015 until 2024. He served under Prime Minister Liz Truss as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from September to October 2022. He previously served under Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from 2020 to 2022.

Early life and career

Ranil Jayawardena was born on 3 September 1986 in London.{{cite web|url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4498|title=Ranil Jayawardena|publisher=MyParliament|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925035439/http://myparliament.info/Member/4498|archive-date=25 September 2017}} His father, Nalin Jayawardena, is of Sri Lankan origin and moved to the United Kingdom in 1978 to pursue a career in accountancy.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/05/ukip-candidate-suspended-threatening-bullet-tory-rival|title=Ukip candidate suspended for threatening to 'put a bullet in' Tory rival|work=The Guardian|date=5 May 2015|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510211906/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/05/ukip-candidate-suspended-threatening-bullet-tory-rival|archive-date=10 May 2017}} His mother, Indira Das Jayawardena, has Indian heritage; he also has a brother and sister.{{cite news|title='Ranil's election great honour to Sri Lanka'|archive-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512094004/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political%2Franil-s-election-great-honour-sri-lanka|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/ranil-s-election-great-honour-sri-lanka|work=Daily News|date=12 May 2015|url-status=dead}}

His early education was at Hook Infant School and Hook Junior School in Hook,{{cite news|url=http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/15716274.MP_returns_to_old_school_to_open_new_building/|work=Basingstoke Gazette|date=12 December 2017|access-date=12 December 2017|last=Harrison-Fisher|first=Andre|title=MP returns to old school to open new building}} Robert May's School, a state comprehensive school in Odiham,{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10298013.display/|title=Cllr Ranil Jayawardena says too many children in the borough are being let down|work=Southern Daily Echo|date=19 March 2013|access-date=14 May 2017|last=Richards|first=Adam|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924230610/http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10298013.display/|archive-date=24 September 2017}} and Alton College in Alton.{{cite news|url=http://www.altonherald.com/article.cfm?id=113567&headline=Alton%20to%20leave%20East%20Hampshire%20in%20boundary%20shake%20up§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016|title=Alton to leave East Hampshire in boundary shake up|work=Farnham Herald|date=16 September 2016|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110134829/http://www.altonherald.com/article.cfm?id=113567&headline=Alton%20to%20leave%20East%20Hampshire%20in%20boundary%20shake%20up§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016|archive-date=10 November 2017}} Jayawardena then studied at the London School of Economics, where he graduated with a BSc in government in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/show_module_fw2.aspx?sid=1623&gid=1&ecid=2513&control_id=644&nologo=1&cvprint=1&page_id=252&crid=0&scontid=-1&viewas=user|title=LSE alumni elected in the UK general election|publisher=London School of Economics|access-date=14 May 2017}}

After university, Jayawardena worked for the Lloyds Banking Group, and according to The Guardian, was involved in lobbying Members of the European Parliament on imminent legislation affecting the European banking sector. He also worked on a voluntary basis in the office of North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot.{{cite news|last1=Syal|first1=Rajeev|last2=Barr|first2=Caelainn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/05/300-staff-working-for-peers-and-mps-have-lobbying-interests-analysis-reveals|title=300 staff working for peers and MPs have lobbying interests, analysis reveals|work=The Guardian|date=5 March 2015|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911195341/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/05/300-staff-working-for-peers-and-mps-have-lobbying-interests-analysis-reveals|archive-date=11 September 2017}}

Jayawardena served as a councillor on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council from 2008 to 2015.{{cite web|publisher=UK Polling Report|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/hampshirenortheast/|title=North East Hampshire|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613024259/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/hampshirenortheast/|archive-date=13 June 2017}} During his time as a councillor, he was also the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, before being made Deputy Leader of the council.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11260468.Clive_Sanders_to_remain_as_leader_of_Basingstoke_and_Deane_Borough_Council/|last=Bave|first=Jessica|title=Clive Sanders to remain as leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council|work=Southern Daily Echo|date=5 June 2014|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110134829/http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11260468.Clive_Sanders_to_remain_as_leader_of_Basingstoke_and_Deane_Borough_Council/|archive-date=10 November 2017}} He invested in "community safety patrollers" to target anti-social behaviour and littering{{cite news|url=https://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/11786721.Litter_crackdown_launched_at_Basingstoke_Leisure_Park/|last=Bave|first=Jessica|title=Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council launches crackdown on litter at Basingstoke Leisure Park|work=County Press|date=11 February 2015|access-date=4 January 2019}} and provided half an hour free parking in "short stay car parks in Top of the Town".{{cite news|url=http://www.basingstokeobserver.co.uk/top-of-the-town-set-to-get-free-parking|last=Stanley|first=John|title=Top of the Town 'set to get free parking'|work=Basingstoke Observer|date=7 November 2013|access-date=4 January 2019}}

Parliamentary career

At the 2015 general election, Jayawardena was elected to Parliament as MP for North East Hampshire with 65.9% of the vote and a majority of 29,916.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} During the election, the candidate for the UK Independence Party was suspended after making a death threat towards Jayawardena.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-ukip-sacks-candidate-who-threatened-to-shoot-his-tory-rival-10227552.html|title=Ukip sacks candidate Robert Blay for threatening to shoot his Tory rival|work=The Independent|date=5 May 2015|access-date=14 May 2017|last=Dutta|first=Kunal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828191148/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-ukip-sacks-candidate-who-threatened-to-shoot-his-tory-rival-10227552.html|archive-date=28 August 2017}}

In his maiden speech, Jayawardena outlined his belief in the rule of law, in human rights and in equality before the law being matched by equality in opportunity, and that rights must be balanced by responsibilities.{{cite news|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-06-03/debates/15060324000002/DevolutionAndGrowthAcrossBritain#contribution-15060324000528|title=House of Commons|work=Hansard|date=3 June 2015|last=Jayawardena|first=Ranil}}

In December 2015, he voted to support Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to carry out airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34987921|title=Syria strikes: Find out how your MP voted|publisher=BBC News|date=3 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203070703/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34987921|archive-date=3 December 2015}} In the 2015–17 parliament, he was part of the Home Affairs Committee and the International Trade Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-ranil-jayawardena/4498|title=Mr Ranil Jayawardena|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608235038/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-ranil-jayawardena/4498|archive-date=8 June 2017}}

Jayawardena supported Brexit in the 2016 Brexit referendum.{{cite news |last1=Goodenough |first1=Tom |date=16 February 2016 |title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence? |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022111657/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/ |archive-date=22 October 2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 |work=The Spectator}}

Jayawardena in February 2017 publicly continued to support local issues that he had supported as a councillor such as protecting weekly bin collections.{{cite news|url=http://www.basingstokeobserver.co.uk/councils-bin-collection-change-idea-branded-junk-by-former-deputy|work=Basingstoke Observer|title=Council's bin collection change idea branded 'junk' by former deputy|date=13 February 2017|access-date=20 July 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/15099601.ranil-jayawardena-mp-rubbishes-idea-of-fortnightly-bin-collection/|work=Basingstoke Gazette|last=Pamely|first=Harry|title=Ranil Jayawardena MP rubbishes idea of fortnightly bin collection|date=17 February 2017|access-date=20 July 2019}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Jayawardena was re-elected as MP for North East Hampshire with a decreased vote share of 65.5% and a decreased majority of 27,772.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000844|title=Hampshire North East|publisher=BBC News|access-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617085247/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000844|archive-date=17 June 2017}}{{cite web |date=12 May 2017 |title=North Hampshire general election candidates |url=http://www.basingstokeobserver.co.uk/north-hampshire-general-election-candidates-confirmed |access-date=16 May 2017 |work=Basingstoke Observer}}

In June 2017, he shut down his Twitter account after labelling it as "a platform full of trolls, extremists– and worse".{{cite news|url=http://www.basingstokeobserver.co.uk/mp-jayawardena-quits-twitter-over-trolling-extremists-and-worse|title=MP Jayawardena quits Twitter over 'trolling, extremists – and worse'|work=Basingstoke Observer|date=26 June 2017|access-date=28 August 2017|last=Brown|first=Matthew|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828184910/http://www.basingstokeobserver.co.uk/mp-jayawardena-quits-twitter-over-trolling-extremists-and-worse|archive-date=28 August 2017}}

In January 2018, Jayawardena was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to the ministerial team at the Department for Work and Pensions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2018/01/list-of-ppss.html|title=List of PPS's {{!}} Conservative Home|work=Conservative Home|access-date=10 September 2018|language=en-US}} He was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice in September 2018, but resigned from this post in November 2018 in protest at the government's proposed Brexit deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/17226388.ranil-jayawardena-resigns-from-pps-post-over-the-uks-draft-brexit-agreement-with-the-eu/|work=Basingstoke Gazette|date=15 November 2018|title=Ranil Jayawardena resigns from PPS post over the UK's draft Brexit agreement with the EU|last=Birkbeck|first=Tim}}

In March 2019, Jayawardena was one of 21 MPs who voted against the teaching of LGBT-inclusive relationship and sex education in English schools.{{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/lgbt-sex-relationship-education-mps-support/|title=MPs vote for LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education from primary school|work=i|date=28 March 2019|last=Butterworth|first=Benjamin}} He explained his vote as supporting parents' rights to choose their children's education.{{cite news|url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/17548296.mp-one-of-just-21-to-vote-against-changes-to-sex-education-proposal/|work=Basingstoke Gazette|date=3 April 2019|title=MP one of just 21 to vote against changes to sex education proposal}}

Jayawardena supported Boris Johnson in the 2019 leadership election.{{cite news |last1=Jayawardena |first1=Ranil |title=MP'S COLUMN: Why I am backing Boris |url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/17745844.north-east-hampshire-mp-ranil-jayawardena-backing-boris/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Basingstoke Gazette |date=8 July 2019 |language=en}} In the same year, he was appointed as a Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party.{{cite web|title=The Party's new line-up of Deputy and Vice Chairmen|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/08/the-partys-line-up-of-deputy-and-vice-chairmen.html|publisher=ConservativeHome|access-date=13 December 2019|last=Wallace|first=Mark|date=5 August 2019}}

At the 2019 general election, Jayawardena was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 59.5% and a decreased majority of 20,211.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000844|title=North East Hampshire|access-date=13 December 2019|publisher=BBC News}}{{cite web |title=Hart Council Statement of Persons Nominated |url=https://www.hart.gov.uk/sites/default/files/1_Residents/Elections/Statement%20of%20Persons%20Nominated%2C%20notice%20of%20poll%20GEN2019.pdf/ |access-date=20 November 2019}}

In May 2020, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.{{cite news |last1=Papworth |first1=Bethany |title=MP Ranil Jayawardena will serve as trade minister during pandemic |url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18429603.mp-ranil-jayawardena-will-serve-trade-minister-pandemic/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Basingstoke Gazette |date=6 May 2020 |language=en}} In May 2020, he was appointed as Minister for International Trade, at the Department for International Trade, by Boris Johnson following the resignation of Conor Burns.{{cite news |date=5 May 2020 |title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--139/ |access-date=6 May 2020 |website=Gov.uk}}

File:Ranil Jayawardena DSC01061.jpgIn November 2020, the Basingstoke Gazette reported that Jayawardena earned £40,000 in share options from eight days consulting for PepTcell, a pharmaceuticals company and £1,400 plus free travel from Great Western Railway.

In September 2022, he was appointed as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister Liz Truss. Jayawardena is considered a close ally of Truss, and was one her earliest supporters during the 2022 leadership election.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-07 |title=Liz Truss cabinet: who are the key players in PM's top team? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/07/liz-truss-cabinet-who-are-other-key-players-top-team |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Farmers Weekly noted at the time that he was "relatively unknown" in agriculture and had no direct experience.{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Debbie |title=Ranil Jayawardena announced as new Defra secretary |url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/ranil-jayawardena-announced-as-new-defra-secretary |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Farmers Weekly |date=6 September 2022}} He was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on 13 September 2022 following his appointment.{{cite web|url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-13-List-of-Business.pdf|publisher=Privy Council Office|title=Orders for 13 September 2022|access-date=14 September 2022}}

In the 2024 general election, Jayawardena lost his seat when Liberal Democrat Alex Brewer overturned Jayawardena’s 20,211 majority to win the seat by 634 votes.

Jayawardena was knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours for "political and public service".

Personal life

Jayawardena lives in Bramley, Hampshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/news-features/ranil-jayawardena-mp-visits-hlf-supported-rspb-reserve-hazeley-heath|title=Ranil Jayawardena MP visits HLF supported RSPB reserve at Hazeley Heath|publisher=Heritage Lottery Fund|date=12 November 2015}} He has been married to Alison (née Roberts), a solicitor, since 2011.{{cite book|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-283996|title=Jayawardena, Ranil Malcolm|access-date=11 February 2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U283996|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4|edition=Who's Who, online}}{{cite web|url=http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/person/1738/alison-lyn-jayawardena|title=Alison Lyn Jayawardena|access-date=14 May 2017|publisher=The Law Society|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828184815/http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/person/1738/alison-lyn-jayawardena|archive-date=28 August 2017}} The couple have two daughters and a son.{{cite web|url=https://www.tellranil.com/about-ranil|title=About Ranil|publisher=Ranil Jayawardena|access-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609175926/https://www.tellranil.com/about-ranil|archive-date=9 June 2017}} His wife worked part-time as a Senior Researcher for his parliamentary office.{{cite news |last1=Hinton |first1=Megan |last2=Evans |first2=Ryan |title=REVEALED: MP paid £40,000 in share options for eight days of consultancy at drug company |url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18882568.ranil-jayawardena-consulted-private-drugs-company/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Basingstoke Gazette |date=19 November 2020 |language=en}} He is a Christian.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/08/ukip-ranil-jayawardena-conservative-blay_n_9185998.html|title=Ranil Jayawardena: I Never Got An Apology From Ukip After One Of Its Candidates Said He Wanted To Shoot Me|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=14 May 2017|last=Bennett|first=Owen|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610073206/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/08/ukip-ranil-jayawardena-conservative-blay_n_9185998.html|archive-date=10 June 2017}}