The man identified as Arulselvan of Yazhpanam in Sri Lanka reached Arichalmunai near here by a boat this morning.
He told the police that he left his country fearing torture at the hands of military there and that he had come in search of his wife who is lodged in a refugee camp in Erode district, about 360 kms from here.
Arulselvan was picked up by Dhanushkodi police and handed over to 'Q' branch police, who arrested him for entering the country without proper travel documents, they said adding the man was being questioned.