[1] As of 2021[update], he is the director of Augmented Human Lab and associate professor at the National University of Singapore.

Before moving to Auckland in 2018, he was an assistant professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design.

MIT Technology Review honored Nanayakkara as one of the Innovators Under 35 for Asia Pacific Region 2014.

Later he was a postdoctoral researcher with Pattie Maes's Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT Media Lab.

[12][13] Suranga is best known for his work EyeRing - A finger-worn interface for seamless interactions[2][3][4] [5] Haptic Chair - Audio visual system to provide a more satisfying musical experience to deaf people[6] and StickEars – a sound-based sticky note like device to make everyday objects more accessible.