Six flights were unable to land due to heavy rain in Katunayake.

The airport duty officer confirmed that six aircraft arriving at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport and its surrounding areas were unable to land and had to remain in the sky due to sudden heavy rainfall. This adverse weather condition suddenly developed around 9:45 PM on the 31st, causing significant delays in aircraft landings.

Among the aircraft circling in the sky unable to land were a China Eastern flight from Kunming, China, an Emirates flight from Dubai, and an AirAsia flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Additionally, three SriLankan Airlines flights arriving from Melbourne, Chennai, India, and Lahore, Pakistan, were also inconvenienced by this adverse weather.

Among these aircraft, the flight from Kunming, China, which was scheduled to land in Katunayake at 9:49 PM, had to remain in the sky for nearly an hour. Due to circling in the air for such a long time, the aircraft's fuel level gradually decreased, and as a safety measure, authorities diverted the flight to Mattala International Airport around 10:50 PM.

Subsequently, as the adverse weather conditions around Katunayake Airport cleared, the China Eastern flight that had been diverted to Mattala returned to Katunayake at 1:01 AM the following day (01). Afterwards, carrying a group of passengers, the flight departed for Kunming, China, again around 2:15 AM. The duty officer further stated that due to the improved weather, the other five aircraft that had been circling in the sky were safely landed at Katunayake Airport without any hindrance.