“We will be able to open the airport two weeks ahead of time,” a Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry official said.

However the benefits of this will not go to the passengers using the airport since the airlines are not in a position to change their schedules. The airport, although open 24 hours will only have traffic flowing in from 6 p.m. to 8 30 a.m. daily.

However there is a possibility that SriLankan Airlines may resume some of their scheduled flights to Indian destinations during day time.

Meanwhile the travel industry is requesting the Sri Lankan Airlines not to halt the Mattala airport to China operations since many Chinese are now using Mattala as a gateway. (CDN)