Dr. Nathali Silva Best ICT Researcher of the Year  in Sri Lanka Ranked Among World’s Top 2% Scientists in Computing – Stanford–Elsevier 2024 List

SLIIT proudly celebrates Dr. Nathali Silva, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Computing, who has been recognized among the Top 2% of scientists worldwide in the prestigious Stanford–Elsevier 2024 list, announced in October 2025. This global recognition reflects her outstanding contributions to computing research and innovation.

In addition to this international honor, Dr. Silva was named “Best ICT Researcher of the Year” at the National IT Conference 2025, underscoring her leadership in advancing IT research in Sri Lanka. Her work focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, optimization algorithms, IoT, and energy management, driving impactful solutions for smart systems and sustainable technologies.

Dr. Silva’s research excellence is evident through multiple Best Paper Awards at leading conferences, software innovations in smart home systems, and competitive international scholarships, including the Brain Korea 21+ Research Fellowship and the KINGS Scholarship for her Ph.D. studies in Computer Science and Engineering at Kyungpook National University, Korea.

Currently serving as Assistant Professor at SLIIT, Dr. Silva continues to inspire students and researchers through cutting-edge projects in AI and IoT, reinforcing SLIIT’s position as a hub for world-class computing research.

SLIIT proudly celebrates Professor Priyan Dias, Consultant Professor in Civil Engineering, who has been recognized among the Top 2% of scientists worldwide in the Stanford–Elsevier Career List 2024, announced in October 2025. This global recognition reflects his lifelong contributions to civil engineering research and positions him among the most influential academics internationally.

Prof. Dias is a distinguished scholar whose research spans structural engineering, concrete technology and durability, tsunami resilience, building degradation modeling, and AI applications in civil engineering, alongside pioneering work in systems approaches and philosophy for engineering. His innovative thinking has shaped engineering practice and academic discourse for decades.

His exceptional research output has earned him multiple Presidential Research Awards for publications in Science Citation Index journals, as well as numerous national and international honors, including the Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, Endeavour Executive Award, and the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) Overseas Prize. Prof. Dias is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, and the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (President 2020-2022); and is the Sri Lanka Representative of the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), reflecting his standing in the global engineering community.

With an illustrious career that includes serving as Emeritus Professor and founder Director of Research at the University of Moratuwa, and a member of the National Research Council for 15 years, Prof. Dias now brings his expertise to SLIIT as Consultant Professor, inspiring the next generation of engineers through research, mentorship, and thought leadership.

SLIIT proudly recognizes Professor Dush N. K. Jayakody, Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, for his globally impactful contributions to next-generation wireless communications.

His pioneering research on coded wireless power transfer for UAV-assisted networks addresses one of the most critical challenges in UAV technology—limited battery life—by enabling drones to harvest energy from transmitted signals while maintaining reliable connectivity. This breakthrough supports the development of self-energized UAV networks with applications in disaster recovery, remote connectivity, and future 6G communication systems.

Prof. Dushantha Nalin K. Jayakody was listed among the world’s Top 2% of scientists in the Stanford–Elsevier rankings (2024 edition, released in October 2025 and the editions of 2021-2023 continuously) and received the Sri Lankan President’s Award for Outstanding Research Performance at the national awards ceremonies in November 2023 and December 2025. In addition, the AD Scientific Index ranks him No. 2 in Sri Lanka in Electronics & Electrical Engineering. These achievements enhance SLIIT’s international research visibility.

His work reflects a bold vision:“Future networks must be intelligent in how they use energy, spectrum, and structure.”

Through his leadership at SLIIT’s Centre of Excellence in Intelligent Electronics & Transmission (CIET), his role as Vice Chair of the IEEE Communications Society (Sri Lanka Chapter), and collaborations with leading institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Prof. Jayakody is shaping the future of wireless communications while creating opportunities for Sri Lankan students to engage in world-class research.

Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka’s academic journey at SLIIT is a powerful example of how rigorous research, visionary leadership, and deep mentorship can converge to create lasting impact. As the Head of the Department of Information Management at SLIIT Business School, he has played a transformative role in elevating the university’s research culture — one grounded in empirical insight and committed to societal relevance.

A hallmark of his academic contribution is his unwavering commitment to student-centred research. He has co-authored more than 100 Scopus Q1-ranked journal articles in collaboration with SLIIT undergraduate and postgraduate students — a rare and remarkable achievement in Sri Lankan higher education. Under his mentorship, students are not only trained in rigorous research methodology but also guided toward international publication and scholarly engagement.

Prof. Jayathilaka’s excellence in research has been recognised multiple times with the SLIIT Researcher of the Year Award, underscoring his consistent output of high-impact, peer-reviewed work. In parallel, he has been honoured with the SLIIT Outstanding Teacher Award (Senior) on several occasions, reflecting his ability to inspire in both the classroom and the research sphere.

In 2024, he received national recognition with the National Educator Award (Gold Award) for his outstanding achievement and contribution to the discipline of Business and Management. This prestigious honour celebrates his leadership in shaping a generation of future scholars and his enduring contribution to knowledge creation in the field.

His research focuses on addressing complex interdisciplinary challenges at the intersection of economics, digitalisation, sustainability, health, and public policy. Drawing on large-scale datasets and advanced econometric techniques, Prof. Jayathilaka explores critical themes including globalisation and development, business analytics and digital transformation, development economics and economic policy, applied econometrics and quantitative analysis, health economics and public health, tourism and consumer behaviour, environmental economics and sustainability, and social policy and inclusion in business.

Beyond individual accolades, Prof. Jayathilaka has been instrumental in shaping a collaborative, forward-thinking research culture at SLIIT. He actively supports academic staff in launching research initiatives, publishing in reputed journals, and forming cross-disciplinary research teams. His international collaborations have helped position SLIIT as a contributor to global academic discourse.

Despite the demands of leadership, teaching, and scholarship, Prof. Jayathilaka remains dedicated to producing research that informs policy, advances theory, and creates real-world value. His legacy is not only in what he publishes but in how he empowers others to engage in meaningful, high-quality research.

For Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka, research is not just an academic exercise — it is a lifelong mission to transform insight into impact. Through his vision, mentorship, and scholarly excellence, he continues to define and drive SLIIT’s role as a hub of research innovation in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Professor Jayaruk is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Analytical Chemistry. He is an alumnus of Richmond College, Galle, and the University of Colombo, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Alabama, USA, with a research focus on the synthesis, characterization, and application of metal nanoparticles supported on porous carbon materials. During his doctoral studies, he gained extensive expertise in advanced nanotechnology techniques.

Since joining the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) in 2017, Professor Jayaruk has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students. His teaching portfolio includes Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Introduction to Nanotechnology, and Experimental and Research Design.

Professor Jayaruk’s research focuses on the development of sustainable nanomaterials for applications in environmental protection and human health. He is particularly dedicated to adding value to Sri Lanka’s abundant natural resources—such as ilmenite, graphite, and clay—as well as agricultural and marine waste materials, including rice husks, coconut husks, fruit waste, and shrimp shells. His work extends to the design of polymer- and nanomaterial-based delivery systems for the sustained release of pharmacologically active compounds. Additionally, he explores the development of novel materials targeting dermatological applications such as wound healing, sun protection etc. His research consistently emphasizes eco-friendly and innovative approaches aimed at contributing to a better world.

Professor Jayaruk has received prestigious research grants from both international and national funding bodies, including the World Bank, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) under the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the India-Sri Lanka Foundation, and the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. He is actively engaged in collaborative research with international partners in the United Kingdom, Australia, and China, as well as with researchers across several Sri Lankan universities.

Prof. Jayaruk has been widely recognized for his excellence in teaching, research, and overall academic performance, earning several prestigious awards over the years. Notably, he received the Ramakrishna Memorial Award in 2024 from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, acknowledging his outstanding research in Analytical Chemistry conducted over the past five years. At the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), he was honoured with the Outstanding Overall Achievement Award – Category B in 2023, reflecting his exceptional contributions across multiple domains. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Researcher Award – Category B for two consecutive years, in 2022 and 2023, and the Outstanding Teacher Award in the Senior Lecturer Category in 2022, both presented by SLIIT, underscoring his dedication to both research and education.

Prof. Jayaruk warmly welcomes global collaborations aimed at advancing science for the benefit of humanity. With a strong belief in the power of collective knowledge and interdisciplinary partnerships, he actively seeks opportunities to engage with researchers, institutions, and organizations around the world. He envisions collaborative research as a driving force for transformative impact, fostering innovation that transcends borders and contributes meaningfully to the well-being of communities worldwide.

Professor Dhanushka Udayanga has established himself as a leading early-career scientist specializing in molecular systematics and the biotechnological applications of fungi. His academic journey began with a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Peradeniya, where his fascination with fungi first developed.

In 2010, he commenced his PhD at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, under Prof. Kevin D. Hyde, conducting critical taxonomic revisions of Diaporthe and Colletotrichum. His research was enriched through advanced training at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, Beltsville, Maryland, working alongside renowned experts including Dr. Amy Rossman, and Dr. Lisa A. Castlebury.

Following his PhD completion in 2015, Prof. Udayanga served as a postdoctoral scientist at USDA-ARS in Maryland, focusing on the systematics and genomics of strawberry pathogens, especially within Diaporthales. Returning to Sri Lanka in 2017, he served as Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biosystems Technology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Since August 2024, he has held the position of Professor at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), where he leads the first institutional mycology research group.

His research outputs include resolving complex species boundaries within Diaporthe and Colletotrichum, characterizing grey blight fungi affecting tea plantations, redefining strawberry pathogens in the USA, and exploring biotechnological innovations such as plastic-degrading fungi and sustainable mycelium-based materials. His project on mycelium based materials has awarded numerous national and international awards due to its sustainable nature solving several pressing environmental challenges.

Prof. Udayanga has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, with a current Google Scholar h-index of 30 and citations exceeding 5540. He is a frequent peer reviewer for over 20 international journals and serves as Sectional Editor for Phytotaxa. A dedicated mentor, he has supervised several MPhil and PhD candidates and trained over 25 undergraduates in mycology, molecular systematics, and fungal biotechnology. His mentorship extends internationally, with many of his former students pursuing advanced studies globally.

Prof. Udayanga’s contributions have been recognized through numerous university-level awards by his previous institutions affiliated with. Internationally, he received the Martin Baker Research Award from the Mycological Society of America in 2018. He has been consistently ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide (Stanford/Elsevier, 2021–2023).

In 2025, his dedication to advancing mycology was honored with the prestigious C.J. Alexopoulos Prize by the Mycological Society of America, marking his impact in fungal research and fostering applied mycology in the Global South. He is now striving towards a world-class mycology research hub at SLIIT, focusing on plant pathogen systematics, fungal genomics, and sustainable biotechnology innovations.

Prof Dhanushka Receiving CJ Alexapoulos award at the Annual Meeting of Mycological Society of America Held in University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA with president of MSA Prof Timothy James.