Ranil Jayawardena has replaced George Eustice as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to become the UK’s eighth Environment Secretary since 2010.
The official page for the Prime Minister’s office took to Twitter to confirm Jayawardena as the new Defra secretary following a cabinet reshuffling by the new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, on Tuesday evening (September 6).
Responding to his new role, Jayawardena said it was a “privilege” to be appointed to the position.
Who is Ranil Jayawardena?
Jayawardena was previously the Minister for International Trade from May 2020 to September 2022. He was elected as the Conservative MP for North East Hampshire in 2015.
He went to his local comprehensive school in north east Hampshire and studied government at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
The father of three entered Parliament representing his home constituency in 2015, and was re-elected in 2017 and 2019.
Before serving as a minister, he was a member of the International Trade, Home Affairs, Procedure and Arms Export Controls Committees, and had been appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons to the Chairmens’ Panel.
He was also made deputy chairman of the Conservative Party by the Prime Minister. Prior to his election to Parliament, he was a councillor, serving as deputy leader of the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane.
Jayawardena 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.
From an agricultural perspective
Jayawardena has said that he recognises the responsibilities he will have as the new secretary of Defra.
“From food security and backing British farmers, to water security and growing our rural economy, I know that there is much to do,” he said.
“It is so important to recognise where our food comes from.”
Jayawardena met with local farmers in North East Hampshire recently with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), and discussed, in his words, “not only the government support already provided, but the export growth that lies ahead”.
“We will deliver a thriving British food industry, a cleaner environment and a growing economy, maximising the benefits of Brexit,” he said.
He stated that he was “grateful” to all those that he worked with in the Department for International Trade, “and those who have served our country at Defra before me”.
