Sri Lanka has over 100 companies with UK affiliations that cover a wide range of sectors, specially in financial services, parmeceuticals, constructions, etc.
Bi-lateral trade between Sri Lanka and the UK has always been profitable. In 2011, Sri Lanka's exports to the UK had totaled 814 billion sterling pounds, which was a 14 % increase an year ago, while exports from UK to Sri Lanka had recorded a 20% increase to 155 million sterling pounds. These figures were increasingly going up,” Michael Halpin, Head of UK Trade and Industry, British High Commission in Sri Lanka said.
Today, UK is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka by volumes. after India. It has also close interaction with the local education sector as well. Nearly 8,000 Sri Lankan students are studying in colleges and universities in the UK and over 25 universities and colleges representing UK were operating in Sri Lanka, while more were planning to come to Sri Lanka in the near future. According to Halpin, 54,000 Sri Lankan students have sat for various examinations to attain UK qualifications.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/12/bus05.asp