1. Ensure that all articles published by JMTR uphold high scientific and scholarly standards.
2. Conduct editorial decisions transparently, competently, and fairly.
3. Evaluate submissions impartially, based on relevance, originality, scientific merit, ethical compliance, and adherence to legal requirements.
4. Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, sharing information only with relevant editors, reviewers, advisors, or the publisher.
5. Investigate credible ethical concerns (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication) and take appropriate action, including corrections or retractions when necessary.
6. Make editorial decisions free from undue influence, whether commercial, institutional, or personal.

1. Adhere strictly to JMTR’s submission standards, formatting requirements, and ethical policies.
2. Submit work that is original and not under consideration or published elsewhere.
3. Ensure that research methods, results, and reporting comply with national and international ethical standards.
4. Present findings accurately without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.
5. List only individuals who made significant contributions to the research and manuscript; ensure all co-authors approve the final version and its submission.
6. Provide accurate details on the title page, including author names, affiliations, and the corresponding author. These details cannot be changed after the initial submission.
7. Respond promptly to editorial and reviewer queries during the review process.
8. Notify JMTR promptly of any significant errors discovered post-publication and cooperate with corrections or retractions.
9. Declare all financial or non-financial interests that could influence the research or interpretation of results.

Double-Blind Peer Review

JMTR adopts a double-blind peer review system to maintain impartiality and fairness in evaluating submitted manuscripts. In this process, the identities of authors are concealed from reviewers, and authors are expected to remove any identifying information from their manuscripts before submission.
This approach promotes objectivity and integrity in the assessment of research work. Reviewers are entrusted with the responsibility to provide constructive, ethical, and professional evaluations, ensuring that the review process upholds the highest academic standards.

1. Evaluate submissions objectively based on scholarly merit, clarity, methodology, relevance, and contribution to the field
2. Treat all manuscripts, review correspondence, and the outcomes of the review process as strictly confidential.
3. Offer clear, constructive, and professional feedback to authors to help strengthen manuscript quality.
4. Avoid personal criticism of authors and ensure that all evaluations remain fair, respectful, and free from bias.
5. Decline to review manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists or where sufficient expertise is lacking for a fair and objective assessment.
6. Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe to support the efficiency of the editorial process.
7. Notify the editorial team of any potential ethical concerns, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or duplicate submission.

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers: Guidance and discussion document on the expected ethical standards for peer reviewers in scholarly publishing, available from COPE at:
https://publicationethics.org/guidance/guideline/ethical-guidelines-peer-reviewers

The Journal of Multidisciplinary and Translational Research (JMTR) requires editors, authors, and reviewers to maintain strict confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer-review process. All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential, and the peer-review process is conducted anonymously. Reviewers must not reveal their identity to authors or disclose any information about the manuscript under review.

If a reviewer wishes to seek advice from a colleague regarding a manuscript, prior permission must be obtained from the Editor-in-Chief. In such cases, the reviewer must ensure that confidentiality is fully maintained, and the names of any colleagues consulted must be disclosed to the journal when submitting the final review report.

Regardless of whether a manuscript is accepted or rejected, all correspondence with the journal, reviewers’ reports, editorial communications, and other confidential materials must not be shared or published without prior written consent from JMTR.

JMTR protects reviewer anonymity and will make every reasonable effort to preserve it, though anonymity cannot be guaranteed in cases of legal obligation or successful legal action. The journal reserves the right to contact funding agencies, regulatory authorities, other journals, or authors’ institutions if research or publication misconduct is suspected or confirmed.

The Journal of Multidisciplinary and Translational Research (JMTR) upholds the highest standards of research integrity and maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, fabrication, and other forms of publication misconduct.

Plagiarism is defined as the unacknowledged use, misrepresentation, or misappropriation of ideas, text, data, or results. It includes the reproduction of another author’s work, either verbatim or nearly verbatim, without proper attribution, as well as the improper use of intellectual property. Manuscripts containing plagiarism will not be considered for publication in JMTR.

JMTR actively identifies and investigates instances of plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are routinely screened using plagiarism-detection tools, including Crossref Similarity Check powered by iThenticate, and are assessed according to established editorial guidelines. When plagiarism is suspected or confirmed, the Editor-in-Chief will promptly investigate and take appropriate action, which may include rejection, correction, retraction, and notification of readers, depending on the severity of the case.

Authors are expected to exercise care when paraphrasing, summarizing, or building upon the work of others, always ensuring proper citation. Reusing portions of one’s own previously published work without transparent disclosure, known as self-plagiarism or text recycling can mislead readers about the originality of the manuscript and is discouraged.

Duplicate publication, in which substantial portions of previously published work are republished without acknowledgment, is also considered unethical. This can include publishing the same or substantially similar manuscript in multiple journals or reusing significant portions of previous work with only minor additions or changes.

JMTR is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and will take all necessary measures, in line with international best practices, to address plagiarism, fabrication, and related misconduct.

The Journal of Multidisciplinary and Translational Research (JMTR) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and takes all instances of research fraud or publication malpractice seriously. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical standards, including guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and implements clear editorial procedures to ensure fair and consistent handling of such cases.

If a manuscript or published article is suspected or found to contain fabricated or falsified data, fraudulent results, or manipulated images, the Managing Editor, under the guidance of the Editor-in-Chief and in consultation with the Editorial Board, will promptly investigate the matter.

When serious malpractice or fraud is confirmed, JMTR will take appropriate corrective action, which may include issuing an expression of concern, retracting the article, and notifying readers and relevant stakeholders. The journal also reserves the right to contact authors’ institutions, funding agencies, or regulatory bodies when necessary to address ethical breaches.

JMTR is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record by ensuring that all corrections, retractions, and editorial notices are transparent, timely, and linked to the original article, enabling readers to access the full context and history of the publication.

Amendments affecting the publication record or the scientific content are assigned a DOI and linked to the original article. JMTR classifies these updates as follows:

Erratum / Publisher Correction: Issued to correct significant errors introduced during the editorial process. Any impact on the conclusions of the article is indicated, and the notice is linked to the original article for transparency.

Corrigendum / Author Correction: Published to correct significant errors identified by the authors that influence the scientific record or article integrity. Authors submit requests for evaluation, and the Editor-in-Chief determines the appropriate action.

Retraction: Applied when results are found to be unreliable or invalid due to error, misconduct, plagiarism, prior publication without proper reference, or unethical research. Retracted articles remain accessible with a clear notice linked to the original publication.

Addendum: Provides supplementary information necessary for understanding important aspects of the article. This category includes Editorial Expressions of Concern, which highlight serious issues and may be updated as more information becomes available.

Editor’s Note: A formal statement from the editors highlighting issues with a published article. Appears online and is updated as necessary.

The Journal of Multidisciplinary and Translational Research (JMTR) is committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in scholarly publishing. Conflicts of interest (COIs) can arise when personal, financial, or professional relationships have the potential to influence or appear to influence judgment in the editorial or review process. All participants in the publication process are required to disclose any relevant conflicts and act in accordance with JMTR’s policies.

Authors are responsible for disclosing any interests, financial or otherwise, that could be perceived as influencing the results, interpretation, or reporting of their research. Such interests may include, but are not limited to, financial support, employment, consultancy, stock ownership, or personal relationships.

1. Authors must include a Conflict of Interest statement in their manuscript at the time of submission.
2. If no conflicts exist, authors must explicitly confirm this in writing.
3. Failure to disclose a relevant COI may result in rejection of the manuscript or subsequent corrective action post-publication.

Editorial staff, including the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Managing Editor, and Editorial Board members, are responsible for identifying and managing conflicts that may affect their handling of manuscripts.

• Staff members must assess potential conflicts before handling a manuscript. Examples include:
  • Recent co-authorship with an author of the manuscript
  • Current or prior affiliation/employment with the author(s)
  • Personal or financial interests related to the content of the manuscript
• Editorial staff must declare any conflicts to the journal and recuse themselves from handling the manuscript if a conflict exists.
• Editorial Board members must not participate in decisions regarding papers they have authored or co-authored, papers authored by family members or close colleagues, or manuscripts relating to products, services, or entities in which they hold an interest.

Reviewers are expected to provide impartial and unbiased assessments of submitted manuscripts.

• Reviewers must evaluate whether any potential conflicts exist prior to accepting an assignment.
• If a conflict of interest is identified after assignment, reviewers must inform the Managing Editor immediately and decline or recuse themselves as appropriate.
• Conflicts may arise from personal relationships, financial interests, academic competition, or professional affiliations.

JMTR relies on transparent disclosure and careful management of conflicts of interest to uphold the integrity, fairness, and credibility of the editorial and peer-review process.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Journal adheres to the principles and best practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity in all editorial decisions.

Complaints
Complaints may concern the editorial process, peer review, publication ethics, author or reviewer conduct, or any aspect of journal management. Complaints must be submitted in writing and should include relevant details, such as manuscript identification and supporting documentation where applicable.

Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions, including manuscript rejection, where they believe that a significant procedural or ethical issue has occurred. Appeals based solely on disagreement with reviewers’ comments will not normally be considered.

Procedure followed by the journal

• All complaints and appeals will be acknowledged promptly.
• Complaints and appeals will be handled objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with COPE guidelines.
• The Editor-in-Chief, or a senior editorial member independent of the original decision, will review the matter.
• Where appropriate, additional reviewers or independent editorial advice may be sought.
• Any conflicts of interest will be managed in line with COPE recommendations.
• The final decision following an appeal rests with the journal and will be communicated clearly to the complainant.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted via the journal’s official at jmtr@kln.ac.lk

Process for Complaints by Authors

Authors and other scholars submitting to the Journal of Multidisciplinary and Translational Research (JMTR) have the right to raise concerns or request clarification if they perceive any misconduct, ethical breach, or deviation from journal policies during the editorial or publication process.

• Complaints should be submitted via the journal’s official at jmtr@kln.ac.lk, clearly stating the manuscript details, nature of the complaint, and any supporting evidence.
• All complaints are treated seriously, confidentially, and promptly.
• JMTR investigates complaints in accordance with prevailing publication ethics practices and internationally recognized guidelines, including those from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
• Authors will be notified of the outcome of the investigation and any corrective actions taken, as appropriate.

Categories of Complaints

Authors or other scholars may submit complaints regarding the following issues:

• Authorship issues – disputes regarding authorship credit, order, or contribution.
• Plagiarism – unacknowledged copying of text, ideas, or results.
• Copyright violations – unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest – financial, personal, or professional interests that could influence outcomes.
• Deceptive or inaccurate research results – falsified, fabricated, or misleading data.
• Violations of established research standards – breaches of ethical, methodological, or reporting standards.
• Bias in the review process – unfair or non-objective assessment of the manuscript.
• Unsatisfactory peer-review comments – inadequate, unprofessional, or unclear feedback from reviewers.
• Unusually delayed manuscript processing time – significant delays beyond normal editorial timelines

JMTR is committed to fair, transparent, and ethical resolution of all complaints, ensuring the integrity of the publication process and maintaining trust in the scholarly record.

Policy for Handling Complaints

JMTR views every complaint as a chance to improve the clarity, accountability, and overall quality of its editorial process. Each submission of concern is reviewed carefully, handled with fairness, and resolved in a timely and professional manner, ensuring adherence to established publication ethics.

Data Sharing and Data Availability Policy
In accordance with COPE guidelines and international best practices in scholarly publishing, the FGS Journal supports transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data sharing.

Data Availability Statement
All manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement describing how the data supporting the results can be accessed. This may include:

• Open access via a recognized public data repository
• Availability upon reasonable request from the corresponding author
• Restricted access due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality considerations

Ethical and Legal Considerations
Authors must ensure that data sharing complies with ethical standards, participant consent, privacy requirements, and applicable legal or institutional regulations. Where data cannot be shared, authors must clearly justify the restriction in the Data Availability Statement.

Editorial Oversight

The journal reserves the right to request access to underlying data during peer review or after publication in cases where concerns arise regarding research integrity, in line with COPE guidance.

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and appropriate documentation of all shared data.