Its main runway will remain closed from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm during the period, to allow renovation work after 30 years.

During daytime, the Mattala airport will take over responsibilities of Katunayake.

Economists say this temporary closure will have an impact on the three wheeler drivers to other infrastructure providers.

Also, passengers will have to face the encumbrance of having to travel via Hambantota.

As a result, tour organizers will have to change their normal plans.

Presently catering to all the international flights to and from the country by 24 airlines, Katunayake handles 170 flights on an average day.

More than eight million passengers had used the airport last year.

The renovation work is the result of a Rs. 74 billon credit facility extended by JICA during prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tour of Japan last year.