They had a narrow escape as their homes were severely damaged in the quake.

The lives of Jayampathy Bulathsinhala of Pathula website, Kumy Wijewardena, deputy editor of Lanka News Web, Shantha Wijesuriya, news editor of UNP communication unit run Lanka X News, are in danger.

At least 2,000 people have been killed in the quake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale.

This was followed by an aftershock, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale today, says the US geological bureau.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankans living in Nepal have been asked by the president’s media unit to make use of the C 130 aircraft that had transported relief goods to Nepal this morning, if they want to return.

The three journalists, arrived at the Kathmandu airport hoping to board the plane, were refused entrance, as their passports had expired.

Their passports are more than three years old and what is left with them is a United Nations given license that they are under political protection.

Sri Lankan embassy officials had turned down a request by Bulathsinhala to issue them with a temporary passport, as their UN licenses have been destroyed in the earth quake.

Air force commander Wing Commander Gihan Seneviratne said 35 Lankans are due to return this afternoon from Nepal.