[1] She joined the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation as an Assistant Director in 1997, followed post-doctoral research at institutions in Scotland, Canada and Australia.
[1] She joined the Department of Aquaculture & Fisheries at the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka in 2001.
[2][3] In 2021, after the submission of a report by Jayakody to Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, led to the creation of a Highly-Sensitive Marine Protection Zone from Mannar to Rameswaram.
[4] Outspoken on the subject of the climate crisis, Jayakody has commented on the necessity of restoration of mangrove habitats in Sri Lanka in order to act as carbon sinks and to protect coastlines from erosion.
[6][2] Her research explores how human activities impact aquatic environments.