Pope Francis is scheduled to conduct a Holy Mass and in the process elevate one of the island's missionaries, Blessed Joseph Vaz, as its first saint at the venue.

The two platforms are built right near the main stage where the Pope will officiate at the Mass and fears are that thousands of Sri Lankans who cannot afford a trip to the Vatican to see the Pontiff will be deprived of seeing him in their own country.

The Pope can usually attract a congregation of up to half a million people for his Mass and Sri Lankan organisers expect the number to reach close to 800,000 for the event on January 14.

Efforts by srilankamirror to seek the stand of the Catholic Church proved futile as its Media spokesman Fr. Cyril Gamini could not be reached.