On interrogation, it was found that they had been brought to Kollam by a racket involved in arranging illegal passage to Australia. They had been detained in the armed reserve camp of the Kerala police and were being questioned
According to the police, they were suspected to have arrived in Kollam by sea from the island nation on their way to Australia.
The agents, who charge about Rs 1 lakh per person for arranging the passage, had lured them by telling them that they would get refugee status on reaching Australia. The police was tipped off on the presence of the Sri Lankans by people from the coastal hamlet Kavanad on seeing a group a women and children on the shores, waiting for the boat.
The police and marine guards soon launched a search and seized the boat, which had 136 persons aboard. Fourteen persons were standing on the shore. Many of them looked shabby and tired, the police said.
The boat had been brought to shore and detained in the Coastal Police station at Sakthikulangara.
