Rakhita Jayawardena has held positions as President of Inflight Duty Free Shops New York, USA (IDFS) (The former largest global inflight operator) and Managing Director of Alpha Onboard Sales and Services UK (AOBSS). 

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During his period at IDFS NY and Alpha OBSS in the UK he succesfully managed and operated over 48 full concession and supply service contracts for global airlines. This included Air Canada, Delta, United, Northwest, Varig Brazilian, Air New Zealand, Maldivian, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Air India and British Midland. Whilest at Alpha OBSS, he was also a pioneer of the Low Cost Airline food and beverage retail service, inaugurating this service for 'GO' - British Airways' Low Cost carrier and was also associated in the Easyuet retail Program. In the 80's, trained by Singapore Airlines, he became the very first Sri Lankan to manage the In-flight Services division for Air Lanka, now known as Sri Lankan Airlines.

Whilst heading up this business he created Air Lanka's inflight retail program which became a template for the indistry. The airline was subsequently rated 'Best Scheduled In-flight Duty Free Retailer' for 3 years at the Annual Duty Free Frontier Awards ceremony in Cannes. 

Today he is the President of inflight retail specialist King Power Traveller. Recently Rakhita was recognized by the region and invited to become the first President of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA). This is the voice of retailers, brand suppliers, travel retail landlords, and national associations in the Asia Pacific region. He is also the Asian representative on the Duty Free World Council. 

Rakhita Jayawardena is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Srilankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka and Sri Lankan Catering. He served as the Pro-tem CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka during the period of February 2015 to October 2015.