Sri Lanka's only international airport is to re-open for night time operations on July 1, officials said.

Sarath Kumara Gunarathna, deputy minister of Ports and Aviation said that the Bandaranaike International Airport will operate round the clock with effect from July 1.

The night time operations were restricted at the airport after the April 29 air raid carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels in the capital of Colombo.

Accordingly the airport operated only between 4 a.m. local time (2230 GMT) and 10 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) with effect from May 10 as most international airlines expressed security fears in traveling to Colombo.

"All arrangements have been made to resume night time flights," Gunarathna said.

However, civil aviation officials said it might be several days before flight movements could happen in the night as airlines have to re-schedule their flights.

"We have informed all international airlines and talks will start with them in order to facilitate them to restart flights during night hours," Gunarathna said.

Emirates and Cathay Pacific stopped all operations to Colombo after an initial restriction of flights to daylight hours.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam late March in its first ever demonstration of air capability bombed the Sri Lanka Air Force base adjoining the Colombo airport, killing three airmen and injuring 16 others.

Its April 29 air raid in the city targeted the government's oil installations.

The decision to re-open the airport for night operations came after the government claimed that adequate security systems had been put in place in order to counter the rebel's air strike capability.