Colombo: The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was partially shut down after 19 years for a week in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

The development comes after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday decided to ban the entry of visitors as a drastic measure as confirmed cases in the country has increased to 51.

The last time the BIA was partially shut down was on July 24, 2001 when the LTTE militant group attacked the airport which claimed 20 lives and destroyed three Airbus aircraft apart from other damages.

Rajapaksa's decision to ban the entry of visitors comes amidst existing restrictions placed on arrivals from 17 countries worst-affected by the COVID-19.

They are Italy, Iran, South Korea, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Canada, Qatar and Bahrain.