External affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera informed the journalist of an invitation by both the president and the prime minister for him to come back.

Pleas by Shantha, Jayampathy ignored

Meanwhile, several journalists exiled in Nepal say they are yet to receive a favourable response from the external affairs ministry to requests to make arrangements for their return.

They are former journalist of lankaenews website Shantha Wijesuriya and pathula website’s Jayampathy Bulathsinhala and his wife.

Returnees arrested

The new government has requested those who had fled the country due to threats to their lives, to return, saying an atmosphere of freedom and peace has been created for any citizen to live freely.

Following that request, many had returned, but nearly 10 Tamils who had come back from the Middle East, Australia, Italy and other countries were arrested at the Katunayake airport.