UK envoy urges Sri Lanka businesses to leverage DCTS for export diversification

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka should leverage the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), one of the most generous trading preference schemes in the world, Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has said, which provides zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan exporters to the UK market. The latest reforms introduced in January 2026 provide a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s apparel sector by expanding preferential market access and enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lankan exports, he told The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at its 26th Annual General Meeting at Westminster House, Colombo. He encouraged “Sri Lankan businesses to make full use of the opportunities available under the DCTS to diversify exports, increase trade, and further strengthen the economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka”. Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka The AGM brought together members and stakeholders committed to strengthening trade and investment relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Ameena Ziauddin, Managing Director of Norfolk Foods, was elected President of the Council for the 2026–2027 term. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal and Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG in Sri Lanka, assumed office as Senior Vice President, while Fadhil Jiffry, Chief Financial Officer of LSEG, was elected Vice President. Krystle Reid Wijesuriya, Chief Executive Officer of We Are Team Rocket, was elected Treasurer. Immediate Past President Mark Surgenor, CEO, of HSBC will continue to serve on the Committee. The following companies were elected to serve on the Council’s Committee for 2026–2027: Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, GTN Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Hayleys PLC, Hilton Colombo Residences, John Keells Holdings PLC, MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Ocean Pick (Pvt) Ltd, Point to Point Consulting, Unilever Sri Lanka Limited, Wilton Metal Box Company (Pvt) Ltd. Asanthi Fernando, Head of Trade & Investment at the British High Commission; Sanath Manatunge, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC; Hannah Wells, Principal of The British School in Colombo; and Orlando Edwards, Country Director of the British Council Sri Lanka, will serve on the Committee by invitation. Shirendra Lawrence, Roshanie Moraes, and Tania Polonnowita were appointed to the Advisory Committee. Outgoing President Surgenor reflected on the continued growth of bilateral trade, supported by the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which has created enhanced market access opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters. New President Ziauddin reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the Council’s role as a platform for business collaboration and highlighted the success of the NextGen Committee, the first initiative of its kind established under a business council in Sri Lanka. The platform has created opportunities for young professionals and entrepreneurs to engage meaningfully with the business community while supporting the development of future business leaders. (Colombo/Jul1/2026)