The five accused ringleaders were among a group of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers sent home by Australia after their vessel was intercepted.
The men have not been charged and will remain in detention until July 28, pending a ruling.
The lawyer representing the men in court questioned the Sri Lankan court's jurisdiction to rule on the matter as the group had been arrested in international waters.
Lawyer Lakshan Dias said his clients should be charged in Australia or under international law.
"We said they were remanded by the Australian border protection authority and not by Sri Lankan police in international waters," Reuters reported Lakshan Dias as saying. "So they should be charged in Australia or according to international law."
"Both my clients are not organisers, but passengers. They were under persecution in Sri Lanka. That's why they left the country," Mr Dias said.
The fate of 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who headed for Australia in another boat is being considered by the Australian High Court.
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