Research Publications

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This main community comprises five sub-communities, each representing the academic contribution made by SLIIT-affiliated personnel.

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Open Access
Integration of industry 4.0 technologies to overcome lean manufacturing barriers in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector
(Emerald Publishing, 2026-02-09) Silva, N; Hettiarachchi, D. I; Perera, P; Perera, C
Purpose – This study aims to examine how Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies can enable Lean Manufacturing (LM) practices in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry. Although LM has been widely adopted to improve efficiency and reduce waste, persistent barriers such as frequent product changes, limited real-time visibility and infrastructural constraints have restricted its full potential. The purpose of this research is to explore how advanced digital solutions, including Internet of Things (IoT), real-time analytics and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), can address these barriers and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of apparel manufacturing in a dynamic global market. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative single-case study design was used to provide an in-depth understanding of digital–lean integration. The research was conducted in collaboration with a leading Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer. Data were collected through on-site factory observations, semi-structured interviews with managers and employees and examination of company records. Using Yin’s (2018) case study methodology as a guiding framework, the study analyzed how selected I4.0 technologies were implemented alongside lean tools and how these interventions addressed identified operational inefficiencies. Findings – The study found that I4.0-enabled solutions significantly enhanced lean practices by improving production workflow transparency, defect detection and downtime reduction. Tools such as IoT-linked dashboards, electronic Kanban systems and automated performance monitoring minimized non-value-adding activities and reduced bottlenecks. AR/VR applications demonstrated potential for training and machine setup, while predictive maintenance improved equipment reliability. However, the research also identified persistent shortcomings, including data confidentiality issues, workforce adaptability challenges and high capital investment requirements. The findings highlight both the opportunities and practical limitations of integrating digital technologies into lean environments. Research limitations/implications – The research was limited to a single case study of a large apparel manufacturer in Sri Lanka, which constrains the generalizability of findings. Data confidentiality policies restricted access to detailed financial information, preventing quantitative analysis of productivity gains and return on investment. Future studies could extend this research by including multiple firms across varying scales and geographies, enabling comparative insights. Broader empirical studies that quantify the financial outcomes of digital–lean integration would provide further validation and support for industry-wide adoption. Practical implications – For practitioners, the study offers a roadmap for integrating I4.0 technologies with lean practices in apparel manufacturing. The evidence suggests that digital lean tools can enhance transparency, improve workflow efficiency and support more accurate decision-making. Managers should prioritize investments in IoT-enabled monitoring, predictive maintenance and digital visual management systems while addressing workforce readiness through training programs. Attention must also be given to cybersecurity and change management to ensure sustainable implementation. These findings are particularly relevant for resource-constrained firms seeking to maximize operational efficiency while navigating global competitive pressures. Social implications – The integration of I4.0 and LM in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector holds broader social benefits by safeguarding employment in a critical export industry that provides livelihoods for over 300, 000 workers. Enhanced productivity and competitiveness contribute to economic stability and foreign exchange earnings. Moreover, digital lean practices can reduce waste, contributing to environmental sustainability and aligning with global sustainable development goals. By strengthening the resilience of the apparel sector, these advancements can help sustain jobs and improve working conditions, particularly in developing country contexts where apparel remains a cornerstone of industrial growth. Originality/value – This study provides one of the first in-depth examinations of how I4.0 technologies can act as enablers of LM in the Sri Lankan apparel industry. Unlike prior studies that treat lean and digital transformation as separate trajectories, this research highlights their synergies and tradeoffs in practice. By capturing both the benefits and shortcomings of digital lean tools, the paper contributes to theory by extending understanding of lean–I4.0 integration in emerging economy contexts. It also offers practical value by providing industry-specific insights that can inform managers’ strategic decisions on digital transformation.
Open Access
Construction Dynamics And Digitalization
(Faculty of Engineering, 2025-09-09) Premachandra, P.N
The construction industry is at the edge of a decisive transformation, moving away from fragmented, paperbased practices toward an era defined by intelligent digitalization. At the center of this shift is the Digital Twin- a living, data rich model that synchronizes the physical and virtual realms of construction. Bypaper-based Integrating Building Information modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, Digital Twins enable Projects to move from reactive monitoring to proactive, predictive control. This paper examines their influence on Construction dynamics, demonstrating how 4D scheduling with Primavera P6 and intuitive dashboards guided by PMBOK-7 principles elevate visibility, collaboration, and decision making. A case study of the Maldives International Airport new terminal illustrates tangible outcomes: real-time clash detection, optimized sequencing, energy efficient design, and measurable carbon emission reductions. Beyond showcasing benefits, the study outlines a pragmatic roadmap for Sri Lanka, stressing the importance of regulatory reform, academia-industry partnerships, and pilot implementations. The findings suggest that Digital Twins are not distant aspirations but present-day necessities for sustainable, data driven construction.
Open Access
Investigating the Role of Organizational Culture in Facilitating the Technology Adaptation: A Study of Global Information Technology Industry
(ICSDB 2024 and SLIIT Business School, 2024-12-10) Kodithuwakku, T.; Mathew, M.; Samaraweera, I.; Gamage, S.; Thelijjagoda, S.; Samarakkody, T.
For decades, technological advancements and digitization have captivated academics and professionals. Digitalization has brought a transformed organizational efficacy and business operations, and the adoption of these technologies has become a necessity for industries to remain relevant and maintain their competitive edge. In the implementation of digital transformations in companies, more attention has been paid only to infrastructure and technologies, and in some cases, organizational culture and its role have been overlooked, and there is little discussion about them. The information technology sector is a rapidly growing industry in the world which heavily utilizes novel technologies. Thus, there is a necessity to identify the appropriate organizational culture for the Informational technology sector. With this understanding, this study has been conducted to identify the role of organizational culture in the global Information Technology sector. The comprehensive literature review was conducted to assess the type of organizational culture and key characteristics of the organizational culture of the information technology industry. The methodology for the study consisted of conducting a systematic literature review on literature focused on the areas of organizational culture and technological innovation that were sourced from the Scopus databases including Scopus Science Direct, Pearson, IEEE, Emerald Insight, Willey e-books, Taylor and Francis, Research Gate, and Google scholar. A total of 26 articles were selected for the final analysis from the 46 papers that were chosen. According to the findings from past studies in this field, this study concludes the need for a strong organizational culture that values innovation, adaptability, and risk-taking. These characteristics are essential for the navigating challenges of digital transformation. Most researchers have defined cultures with these characteristics as innovative cultures of digital culture. Managers and decision-makers in the industry, technology transition-related project implementation teams and scholars may benefit greatly from the findings of the study, which can help outline programs and policies focused on removing obstacles to technology adaptation in the IT industry. The goal of this research is to advance a more inclusive organizational culture for the industry to persist in the constantly changing digital landscape.
Open Access
Circular Economy, Digitalization and Inter-Organizational Collaboration: The Marvelous Trio
(ICSDB 2024 and SLIIT Business School, 2024-12-10) Greco, M
The idea of supporting the transition toward a circular economy increasingly attracts managers for many good reasons, such as the institutional pressures from governments and society, the desire to imitate the industry leaders that increasingly disseminate their circular economy initiatives, the growing space sustainability and circular economy have in education and training programs, and the challenges associated with raw materials. This keynote speech will discuss how the quest to make a firm’s products and processes ‘more circular’ needs a team effort with other organizations and a fair dose of digitalization. The audience will be left with some thought-provoking questions about how inter-organizational collaboration, digitalization, and circular economy innovation intertwine.
Open Access
Patient Information and Electronic Health Records: A Legal Appraisal with Reference to European Health Data Space
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Rathnayake, A.K
The field of medicine deals with personally identifiable health information regarding individuals. Traditionally, individual records have been stored manually. However, the increased application of information technology and digitalization caused the use of electronic health information to make the provision of healthcare. ‘Personal health information’ is unique because, it deserves legal protection. The disclosure and leakage of such information in an unauthorized way can lead to embarrassing and discriminatory circumstances. The digitalization of healthcare services has earned a reputation for enhancing quality and efficiency. The involvement of personal health information and the advent of Electronic Health Record (EHR) create a conflict on the base of privacy. The paper deals with three main objectives namely to analyse the purview of patient rights and medical information, to analyse the concept of EHR and the emergence of digital health privacy, and to study the legal aspects with reference to the regulations of the European Union and ‘Electronic Health Data Space’. Further, it extends to analyse the drawbacks in the Sri Lankan jurisdiction as well. The methodology adapted by the author in the research paper is qualitative in nature. The paper is involved with the analysis of literature pertaining to the subject of law and in addition to the desk review, the doctrinal methodology supported in the study of domestic and national legislations. In conclusion, the author has recognized the balancing of rights between the patients and clinicians in handling EHR. The author proposes a framework for Sri Lanka by setting EU Recommendation on European Health Record Exchange Format as an example to facilitate the digitalization of health data.
Open Access
Accessing Customer Perceptions on Customer Adoption of Digital Banking Platforms; Private and Public Bank Comparison in the Post COVID –19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka
(Emerald Publishing, 2022-12-01) Jayakody, J. A.D.P.M; Perera, K.N.M; Perera, D.S. I; Liyana Arachchige, K.P; Dunuwila, V.R; Lokeshwara, A
Digitalization plays a significant role in every country at present. When referring to the banking field, banks introduce new digitalization features to their banking customers and motivate people to do their transactions on digitalization platforms. In this study as digitalization platforms, researchers consider ATMs, electronic fund transfers, SWIFT transfers, bank credit debit cards, digital bill payments, internet transactions, digital wallets, and E-vouchers. The main objective was to investigate the customer adoption of Digital Banking (DB)platforms during the post-COVID -19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. There were six independent variables short-formed as customer perceptions and dependent variable was customer adoption. This research is based on quantitative data gathered among the Sri Lankan people scattered in rural and urban areas. Researchers collected data by distributing google questionnaires among the people using cluster sampling method. 421 responses were collected. Analysing methods were correlation, regression and researchers used the SPSS tool for the analysis part. After the data analysis, researchers found there is a significant impact on perceived ease of use, accessibility, and digital literacy towards customer adoption and there isn’t a significant impact on perceived usefulness, perceived risk, and perceived trust to words customer adoption. Researchers concluded that the result as there is a higher number of private bank customers who indicated an intention for using digital banking platforms compared to public banking usage in Sri Lanka. This study is more important to the banking field for identifying customers’ DB usage factor identification and increasing their customers' DB usage and banking people could be able to identify the reasons that customers don’t adopt digital banking in their banking activities.

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