Sir Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena[1] (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.

[2][3] His father, Nalin Jayawardena, is of Sri Lankan origin and moved to the United Kingdom in 1978 to pursue a career in accountancy.

[18] In December 2015, he voted to support Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to carry out airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria.

[27] 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.

[28] In March 2019, Jayawardena was one of 21 MPs who voted against the teaching of LGBT-inclusive relationship and sex education in English schools.

[36] In 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.

[37] In September 2022, he was appointed as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister Liz Truss.