Eight people who were returned from Reunion Island this week after fleeing Sri Lanka by boat were detained and held in remand on Thursday by Negombo Magistrate's Court.
The group of eight includes one child, who was later ordered to be released by the magistrate.
The group were part of 70 people, including 6 children, who had fled on a fishing boat, reaching Reunion Island on February 4.
Sixty-four of them were deported by French authorities.
Last year a Tamil refugee, deported from Australia was also detained by Sri Lankan police on arrival in Colombo, and charged by the Sri Lankan authorities for illegally leaving the country.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of a fine of 200,000 rupees and prison term of five years.
Thileepan Gnaneswaran, a 30 year old father of one was deported after his application for a temporary protection visa was denied.
The deportation has been widely criticised, including by the UN Refugee Agency who condemned Australia's actions to separate a family indefinitely.
Read more: UNHCR accuses Australia of separating families, after deportation of Tamil father
