Colombo, Jan 17 (IANS): The Sri Lankan government Saturday invited all journalists who fled the country due to various threats to return and engage in their profession independently.

Gayantha Karunathilaka, the new minister for mass media, issued the invitation while addressing reporters as he assumed office, News.lk reported.

The minister said the culture in state media deteriorated under the previous regime, leaving the public utterly disappointed about the way it had acted in the last few years.

The language and the quality of programmes used were improper for media, with all state media institutions becoming the trumpet of the government and, thus, making people detach themselves from them.

The minister said there is immediate need for the media culture to change and his first duty will be to bring back state media to the correct path by appointing qualified people to suitable positions.

The minister further said that under the new government's 100-day work programme, arrangements will be made to obtain the parliament's approval for a Right to Information Act.

This will pave the way for the public to obtain information regarding government activities through relevant divisional secretariats.