Rajitha Jayasuriya, Chief Growth Officer/Property Sector – Sales & Marketing, at Fairway Holdings, has become a daring anomaly in a field that has historically been characterised by tradition, hierarchy, and subtly conservative practices. She is a woman who not only negotiates power structures but literally rewrites the rules. Her ascent in the real estate and construction sectors is a profoundly personal tale of perseverance, change, and a refusal to back down in the face of social pressures. She isn’t just selling real estate portfolios – she’s building possibilities. And in doing so, she is contributing to an entire industry to evolve.
Rajitha’s leadership philosophy is simple, yet profoundly disruptive: bring your full self to the table and believe in yourself. In an industry where titles often overshadow temperament, and diplomacy is favoured over directness, she has unapologetically chosen to lead with character over conformity. “I am a woman whose character carries more weight than any title a human being can give me,” she shares. “Labels have been given to me, and I wear them proudly.” Those labels are familiar to many women in leadership. But where others may have dulled their edges to fit in, Rajitha has sharpened hers, into tools of change.
“Aggressive? I call it assertive. Bossy? I keep on leading. Difficult? I speak the truth. Too much? I take up space. Awkward? I raise hard logical questions.” This refusal to dilute her identity has not only defined her professional journey but also transformed the cultural fabric of the teams she leads.
Fairway Properties, is now headed by Rajitha, boldness is not just tolerated, it’s cultivated. Authenticity is not seen as a risk but as a mandatory requirement. “When people see their leader is unafraid to show up fully, it gives them permission to do the same,” she says. “That’s when teams evolve. They stop following and start leading. Leaders lead people where they wish to go, but great leaders, lead them where they should be in the future”.
Every powerful leader carries with them a trail of sacrifices, relationships strained, comforts surrendered, milestones missed. Rajitha is no different. Her ascent has been marked by decisions that demanded short-term pain for long-term gain. “The person I’ve become cost me people, relationships, spaces, and material things,” she reflects. “But I made those choices consciously. And I stand by them.”
It’s a sentiment not often captured in glossy leadership narratives, the silent cost of growth and clarity at times comes through solitude, and strength through walking away from what no longer served her purpose. “What I’ve learned is this: you can’t build something enduring if you’re constantly negotiating your values. Integrity isn’t situational. It’s foundational.”
This grounding in personal ethics has become the bedrock of her leadership style throughout her career. Decisions are filtered not just through spreadsheets and strategies, but through a deep, internal alignment with purpose. And in a world increasingly driven by short-term wins, her long-term vision is both radical and refreshing.
Rajitha’s career in real estate spans over 25 years – a journey that began with an Assistant Sales Manager role at Ceylinco Homes International, where she rose to the position of General Manager Sales/Marketing & Operations within span of 10 years, where she has spelised in neighbourhood housing projects and apartments. Rajitha says “then I moved to a 242 Luxury Apartment Project that was developed by Access Engineering PLC – Capital Heights”. She says pinnacle of her career was the time she participated from Ground breaking Ceremony to the handover of apartments during the pandemic Covid-19. Each step sharpened her understanding of the sector, but it was her time at Capital Heights by Access Engineering that gave her a canvas to redefine its potential.
At Fairway Properties as Chief Growth Officer/Sales & Marketing – Property Sector, she also heads Realtor Lanka Properties, which is The Fairways Realtor-arm. She is responsible to drive sales strategy, contribute to brand positioning, client servicing, revenue generation and innovation across the company’s high-value residential and development projects. But her contribution goes far beyond traditional KPIs. “We
don’t just build buildings, we build homes, lifestyles, and urban experiences that are designed for the future.”
Fairway Latitude, the 7 th Apartment Project by Fairway Properties, where every element is designed to elevate your life style. This exclusive residence blends every day convenience with contemporary elegance and future forward living.
“The architectural vision for Latitude was shaped by our commitment to creating a harmonious blend of modern urban living, environmental consciousness, and practical functionality,” she says. From energy-efficient systems and well-thought layouts to community-centric amenities.
In the post-pandemic era, the property sector has seen immense disruption, from shifting buyer priorities and digital acceleration to rising construction costs and environmental scrutiny. Rajitha sees these not as challenges, but as calls to innovate with intention. “In a fast-changing world, disruption is the new normal. But the real differentiator isn’t how quickly you react, it’s how deeply you think before you act,” she explains.
Every decision of a business entity is rooted in three guiding principles:
● Resilience, to withstand economic volatility and industry fluctuations.
● Relevance, to ensure product-market fit in a rapidly evolving consumer
landscape.
● Responsibility, to build not just for profit, but for the community and to
elevate the vibrancy of the neighbourhood.
“We are not interested in flash-in-the-pan wins,” she says. “We’re here for longevity.” This deliberate, value-based strategy that has enabled Fairway designs, not just to impress but to endure reflecting the same commitment to innovation, clean-design and long-term value.
For Rajitha, success is not about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about being the most aligned. “Classy women rise above the fray, they chart their own course and let their success make the noise.” This ethos permeates her leadership. She does not posture for power, nor does she chase validation. She builds with purpose, and she leads with bold conviction. “I don’t shrink myself to make others happy,” she
says. “I believe in doing the right thing, not for recognition, but because it is right. Rajitha is a woman with hustle.”
The quote she often returns to, one that sums up her approach to leadership, is from Dune: “A great man or woman doesn’t seek to lead; they are called to lead.” And for those watching her trajectory, one thing is clear: she has become a voice for a new generation of leadership in the corporate world. One that is fearless, grounded, and most importantly, real.