The University of Kelaniya is a founder member of COGNITUM, a consortium of leading academic research organisations established in August 2023 to advance scientific and clinical excellence and improve healthcare outcomes globally.

The other founding members are Imperial College London (United Kingdom), The George Institute for Global Health (Australia), the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (New Delhi, India), the Mayosi Research Collaborative at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) and the Baim Institute for Clinical Research (Boston, United States).

The University of Kelaniya has been accepted as a member of the Global Clinical Trials Forum, an initiative convened by the World Health Organization to strengthen the design, conduct and oversight of clinical trials globally. Membership is based on a demonstrated track record of conducting high-quality and impactful clinical trials.