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Dr Thanuja Jayatunga

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Dr Thanuja Jayatunga

Dr. Thanuja Jayatunga

Ph.D (Chemistry, University of Colombo)
B.Sc (Special in Chemistry, University of Kelaniya)

Title: Senior Lecturer.

Email: tjayatunga@sci.sjp.ac.lk

Research Interests : Food chemistry, Food analysis, Quality Assurance

Awards

    • National award for excellence in agricultural research, 1st place in Plantation sector, Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy, 2025.
    • Publishing two or more SCI/SCI expanded research articles in the Biannual Research Symposium of Industrial Technology Institute, 2025


Publications

    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Weeratunge H. D., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R, 2025, Benchmarking analytical parameters for the aging and adulteration of coconut oil, Microchemical Journal, 212, 113463, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.113463.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Weeratunge H. D., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R, 2023, Use of process-based marker compounds to identify different coconut oils, Food Analytical Methods, 17, 96–104, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-023-02552-y.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R, 2020, Rapid determination of adulteration in virgin and copra coconut oil using Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy, International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, 5(3), 38-43.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Jayasuriya C. K., 2016, Development of a biodegradable polymer composite based on natural rubber and screw-pine leaf particles for manufacturing gloves, Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Science, 7(2) 56-60. 


Patent

    • An analytical technique to differentiate Virgin Coconut oil from copra coconut oil and coconut oil extracted from desiccated coconut, Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R., 2023, National Intellectual Property Office, Sri Lanka (Patent application No 22573)


Short communications

    • Jayatunga H G T H, Somasiri H P P S, Mahanama K R R, Investigation into the authenticity of commercial products labeled as virgin coconut oil, 2025, 7th ITI Biennial research symposium, 20.
    • Jayatunga, H. G. T. H., Marage, P. A. P., Perera, W. A. J. S., Sudharshana, H. P. P. S, Development of a certified reference material for oils, 2025, 7th ITI Biennial research symposium, 19.
    • Samson D.K.S.T., Jayatunga H.G.T.H, , Somasiri H. P.P.S, Ambagaspitiya S.S, Rapid Determination of Free Fatty Acids In Coconut Oil Using Fourier Transform Near Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-NIR), 2025, 7th ITI Biennial research symposium, 63.
    • Sathiyaginy S, Jayatunga H. G. T. H, Somasiri H. P. P. S, Dassanayake R.S Rapid determination of oil content in desiccated coconut using fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy, 2025, 7th ITI Biennial research symposium, 64.
    • Jayatunga H G T H, Weeratunge H D, Somasiri H P P S, Mahanama K R R, Comparison of volatile compounds identified by two different techniques in virgin coconut oil, 2023, 6th ITI Biennial research symposium,32.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R., Determination of adulteration of pure coconut oil with used coconut oil by FT-NIR spectroscopy, 2020, 2nd Asian International conference on multidisciplinary research 2020.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H., Somasiri H. P. P. S., Mahanama K. R. R., Development of a fingerprint to identify the different types of coconut oil, 2020, International conference on applied science.
    • Jayatunga H G T H, Weeratunge H D, Somasiri H P P S, Mahanama K R R, Identification of aroma constituents in copra coconut oil, 2019, ITI Biennial research symposium, 8.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H, Somasiri H. P. P. S, Mahanama K. R. R, 2018, Determination of iodine and saponification value of coconut oil using an FT-NIR technique, Annual research symposium of University of Colombo, 228.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H, Somasiri H. P. P. S, Mahanama K. R. R, 2017, Rapid determination of adulteration in coconut oil using FT-NIR spectroscopy, International conference on food quality safety and security(FOOD QualSS 2017), 6.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H, Somasiri H. P. P. S, Mahanama K. R. R, 2017, Use of FT-NIR technique to determine the iodine value of edible oil, 3rd biennial research symposium of Industrial Technology Institute, 53.
    • Jayatunga H. G. T. H, 2014, Development of biodegradable polymer composite for glove material based on natural rubber and Screw-Pine leaf particle, 2014, Peradeniya International Research Symposium (IPUSE), 420.
    • Sumaradiwakara S, Gunasekara L, Medis B, Karunaratne U, Jayatunga T, Slegers R, Fernandopulle N, 2009, Preliminary study on DNA barcoding of Cinnamon varieties in Sri Lanka, 14th International Forestry and Environment Symposium at University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 69-70
   
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