A student of Royal College Colombo, Upul Jayasuriya joined the Attorney General’s Department as a state counsel in 1978.

In 1978, he was also appointed as the First Legal Adviser of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission, which is the present Board of Investments of Sri Lanka.

In 1983, he was awarded the Top Young Outstanding Professional Award under the Entrepreneurship category for converting the Sri Lanka State Trading Tractor Corporation to a profit making venture while serving as its Chairman.

He has held several company directorates and also founded Asian Finance Limited.