H index = 10

Peer reviewed publications

Total citations = 281 (June 2025)

  • Wijerathna T., Wolff J., & Schneider J.M.Structure, properties, and functional diversity of spider aciniform silk. The Journal of Arachnology. 2025 52(3):266-73.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1.0)

  • Wimalasiri U, Wijerathna T, Gunathilaka N, Wijegunawardana A, Rodrigo WW. Presence of Leishmania donovani DNA in wild-caught biting midges Culicoides sp. at a Leishmaniasis disease endemic area in Sri Lanka; An alternative vector for disease transmission. Journal of Multidisciplinary & Translational Research. 2024 Aug 9(1): 1-9.

  • Gunathilaka N., Wimalasiri U. and Wijerathna T. Therapeutic Potential of Melittin Peptide: Major Pain-Producing Substance of European Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Venom against Several Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases. The Journal of Desk Research Review and Analysis, 2023 1(2): 81-102.

  • Jude J, Gunathilaka N, Wijerathna T, Fernando D, Wickremasinghe R, & Abeyewickreme W. Distribution and seasonal variation of malaria vectors in the Mannar and Jaffna Districts; an entomological investigation during the phase of prevention of re-establishment of malaria in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. 2023 Dec 20:1-4.
Springer Nature Link

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1.1)

  • Wijerathna T. & Gunathilaka N (2023). Time series analysis of leishmaniasis incidence in Sri Lanka: Evidence for humidity associated fluctuations. International Journal of Biometeorology
Springer Nature Link

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 3.787)

  • Wijerathna T. Wickremesinghe K. Gunathilaka N. Perera A. & Bandara A (2022). The epidemiological trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kegalle district, Sri Lanka: a newly established disease focus and assessment of bioclimatic suitability for disease establishment using ecological niche modelling. Acta tropica. 237: 106719.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.1)

  • Wijerathna T, Gunathilaka N, Semege S, Pathirana N, Rodrigo W & Fernando D. (2022) Genetic diversity of Leishmania donovani isolates from cutaneous lesions of military personnel in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 15(9): 418-24.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1.9)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., & Rodrigo W (2022). Genetic variation of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Gampaha and Kurunegala Districts of Sri Lanka: Complementing the morphological identification. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 15 (7): 322-331.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1.9)

  • Rathnayake, S., Chandrasena, N., Wijerathna, T., Mallawarachchi, H., & Gunathilaka, N. (2022). Canine filaria species in selected lymphatic filariasis endemic and non-endemic areas in Sri Lanka. Parasitology Research. 2022, 1–5.
Springer Nature Link

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1.8)

  • Mallawarachchi CH, Chandrasena N, Wijerathna T, Dalpadado R, Mallawarachchi MS, Gunarathna DG, Gunathilaka N. (2021). An investigation of a new cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Western Sri Lanka. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 115(11):1288-97.
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.820)

  • Wijerathna T. Gunathilaka, N.* Gunawardena K, Fujii Y. & Gunasekara D. Detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in three selected Medical Officer of Health areas in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2021. Article ID 6650388.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.1)

  • Wijerathna T. & Gunathilaka N. (2020). Morphological identification keys for adults of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Sri Lanka. Parasites & Vectors. 13 : 450.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 3.0)

  • Gunathilaka N., Chandrasena N., Wijerathna T., Gunasekara D., Gunatilaka R.P.,  Premaratna R. (2019). Descriptive investigation of Strongyloidiasis infection and characterization of Strongyloides stercoralis using morphological and molecular based methods. Case Reports in Infectious Diseases. 2020. Article ID 5431491.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 1)

  • Gunathilaka N., Perera H., Wijerathna T., Rodrigo W. & Wijegunawardana, A. (2020). The diversity of midgut bacteria among wild caught Phlebotomus argentipes (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), the vector of leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Biomed Research International. 2020. Article ID 5458063.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.583)

  • Wijerathna T. & Gunathilaka N. (2020). Diurnal adult resting sites and immature breeding habitats of Phlebotomine sand flies in cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic areas of Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Parasites & Vectors.13: 284.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 3.0)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., Rodrigo W. (2020). Socio-economic, demographic and environmental factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Parasites & Vectors. 13:244.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 3.0)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathunga S., & Gunathilaka N. (2020). Recent developments and future directions in the paratransgenesis based control of leishmaniasis. Biological Control. 145: June 2020. 104260.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 3.7)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., & Rodrigo W. (2020). Establishment of a colony of Phlebotomus argentipes under laboratory conditions and morphometric variation between wild caught and laboratory reared populations. Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2020. Article ID 7317648.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.1)

  • Wijerathna, T. &Gunathilaka, N. (2019). Phlebotomine Sand flies (Psychodidae: Diptera) of Sri Lanka: a review on diversity, biology and bionomics. Journal of Insect Biodiversity . 011(2): 041-058.

Zoological Record

  • Perera H. & Wijerathna T. (2019). Sterol Carrier Protein Inhibition-Based Control of Mosquito Vectors: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2019, Article ID 7240356.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.6)

  • Wijerathna T., Tharanga D., Perera., I. & Wijesinghe M.R. (2019). Effects of habitat change on orb weaver Nephila pilipes  in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Zoology. 2019, Article ID 6395015.

Zoological Record

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., & Gunawardana K. (2018). The Economic impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. BioMed Research International. 2018, Article ID 3025185.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.583)

  • Wijerathna T., Tharanga D., & Wijesinghe M.R. (2017). New distribution record of the abandoned-web orb-weaver, Parawixia  dehaani (Doleschall, 1859) (Araneae: Araneidae) from the wet zone of Sri Lanka. University of Sindh Journal of Animal Science. 1(1): 1-3.

EMBASE

  • Tharanga D., Wijerathna T., &Wijesinghe M.R. (2017).  Diversity and morphometry of orb weaver spiders in rainforests in Sri Lanka. Wild Lanka. 5(1): 017-026.

Published by Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., & Rodrigo W. (2017). Potential challenges of controlling leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka at a disease outbreak.  BioMed Research International 2017: Article ID 6931497.

Science Citation Index Expanded (Impact Factor – 2.583)

  • Thotagamuwa A., Wijerathna T., Dangalle C.D., Pallewatte N.P., & Lokupitiya E.  (2017). New distribution record of Cylindera (Oligoma) paradoxa, Horn 1892 (Coleoptera:Cicindelidae) in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka.  Check List. 13(3): Article 2127.

Zoological Record

Conference proceedings/abstracts

Oral (International)

  • Wijerathna, T. Gunathilaka, N. Gunawardena K., Rodrigo, W. (2019). A time-series analysis of the incidence of leishmaniasis integrated with climatic variables in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC)-2019. 41pp.
  • Wijerathna A.C.T. Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N., Gunawardena N.K. and Rodrigo, W.W.P. (2019). Bionomics of Leishmaniasis Vector Sand Flies (Psychodidae:Phlebotominae) in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.  12th International Research Conference 2019 of Kotelawala Defence University. 157pp.
  • Gunathilaka P.A.D.H.N., Wijerathna A.C.T., Perera H.N. and Rodrigo, W.W.P. (2019). Bacterial Diversity in the Lumen of Wild Caught Leishmaniasis Vector Phlebotomus argentipes (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae. 12th International Research Conference 2019 of Kotelawala Defence University. 158pp.
  • Wijerathna, T. Gunathilaka, N. Gunawardena K., Rodrigo, W. (2018). Breeding sites of Phlebotomine sand flies in cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic areas of Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Science. 28 pp.
  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K. (2018). Establishment of a Phlebotomus argentipes colony at a confined laboratory setting and morphometric variation among wild caught sand flies against laboratory reared individuals. International Conference on Health Sciences 2018 at University of Sri Jayawardenepura. 59-60 pp.
  • Wijerathna, T. Gunathilaka, N. Gunawardena K, Fujii Y., Gunasekara D (2018). Molecular detection of blood meal sources of wild caught, engorged sand flies (Psychodidae: Diptera) in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka-Japan Collaborative Research Conference. 4 pp.
  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., Rodrigo W. (2018). Assessing the level of awareness on cutaneous leishmaniasis among people living in Polpithigama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.5th International Conference on Multidiciplinary Approaches. 42 pp.
  • Wijerathna, T. Gunathilaka, N. Gunawardena K, Fujii Y., Gunasekara D. (2018) Molecular detection of Leishmania donovani parasites in wild caught Phlebotomus argentipes using a PCR assay and species abundance of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Kuruneagala District; an endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. 5th International Conference on Multidiciplinary Approaches. 48 pp. 

Oral (Local)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., Rodrigo W. (2017). Leishmaniasis trend and effects of climatic factors in Polpithigama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. 73rd Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science. 7 pp.
  • Wijerathna T., Wijesinghe M.R., Perera I.C.  (2016). Differences in web architecture of the Giant Wood spider (Nephila pilpes) in forested and non-forested areas in the Wet zone of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 36th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka.49 pp.
  • Wijerathna T., Jayasinghe S., Koswinna K., Perera T., Sajeewani K., Wijesinghe M.R. (2016). Survival of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) following exposure to three concentrations of lead under different temperatures. Proceedings of the 36th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka.59 pp.

Poster (International)

  • Wijerathna T., Gunathilaka N., Gunawardana K., Rodrigo W. (2018). Demographic and socio-economic characterization of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients in four selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. International Conference on Health Sciences 2018 at University of Sri Jayawardenepura. 89-90 pp.
  • Wijerathna A.C.T., Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N., Gunawardana, N.K. (2017). Diurnal resting sites and potential breeding habitats of leishmaniasis vector sand flies in selected cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic regions in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.  2nd International Conference on Tropical Medicine, University of Peradeniya. 51-52 pp.
  • Wijerathna, T., Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N., Gunawardana, N.K. (2017). Diversity and abundance of sand flies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in areas with high cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence in Kurunegala District. Peradeniya University International Research Sessions. 315-316 pp.

Poster (Local)

  • Wijerathna, A.C.T., Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N., Gunawardana, N.K. (2017). Assessment of the economic burden to households due to cutaneous leishmaniasis infections in three selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. National Health Research Symposium 2017. 225 pp.

Co-authored (not presented)

  • Mallawarachchi C.H., Gunathilaka P.A.D.H.N., Wijerathna T., Lahiru N.W.B.A.L., Mallawarachchi S.M.N.S.M., Chandrasena T.G.A.N. A preliminary report on a newly emerging focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka.    Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Sciences 2019, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 101pp.
  • Tharanga D. Wijerathna T., Wijesinghe M.R. (2017) Ecological characteristics of three rainforest orb weaver spiders in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 37th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. 28 pp.
  • Thotagamuwa A., Wijerathna T., Dangalle C.D., Pallewatte N.P., Lokupitiya E.  (2016). A Preliminary survey of the occurrence of tiger beetle species (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) in the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 36th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. 50 pp.