Four researchers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), have been recognized among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in the 2026 edition of the prestigious Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators, published by Elsevier.
This international recognition highlights the research contributions and citation impact of the Faculty’s academic staff and reflects the Faculty’s continued commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, promoting research excellence, and contributing to the global scientific community.
The four researchers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences recognized in the 2026 database are:
(1) Prof. Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha – Faculty of Applied Sciences
(2) Prof. Isuru Wijesekara – Faculty of Applied Sciences
(3) Prof. Dimuthu S. Manamgoda – Faculty of Applied Sciences
(4) Dr. Kasun M. Thambugala – Faculty of Applied Sciences
The inclusion of these four researchers in the prestigious database is a significant achievement for the Faculty of Applied Sciences. Their recognition reflects their contributions to scientific research and the international visibility of their scholarly work. It also highlights the importance of sustained research engagement, high-quality scientific publications, and collaboration in strengthening the Faculty’s research profile.
The Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators are developed by a research team led by Professor John P. A. Ioannidis of Stanford University and published through the Elsevier Data Repository. The database provides standardized information on researchers’ citation impact across a wide range of disciplines and includes separate assessments of career-long and single-year citation impact.
The database uses a composite indicator known as the c-score, which considers several citation-related measures, including total citations, the h-index, co-authorship-adjusted indicators, and authorship positions in scientific publications. Researchers are included if they rank among the top 100,000 scientists by c-score or among the top 2% within their respective scientific subfields.
The August 2026 data update, published on 7 October 2026, is based on Scopus author profiles available as of 1 August 2026. The career-long database covers research impact up to the end of 2025, while the single-year database assesses citations received during the 2025 calendar year. These indicators provide a standardized way to assess citation impact while recognizing that citation metrics should be interpreted in the context of individual disciplines and research contributions.
The recognition of four researchers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences is a proud moment for the Faculty and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. It demonstrates the Faculty’s contribution to research and innovation and reinforces its commitment to fostering an environment in which academic staff can pursue impactful research, develop international collaborations, and contribute to scientific and technological advancement.
The Faculty of Applied Sciences warmly congratulates Prof. Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Prof. Isuru Wijesekara, Prof. Dimuthu S. Manamgoda, and Dr. Kasun M. Thambugala on this prestigious recognition and wishes them continued success in their research and academic endeavors.
