Australia’s Immigration Minister has refused to comment on the fate of a boat carrying 153 asylum seekers towards Christmas Island, as it nears 2 days since last contact was made with the vessel.

Reports have speculated that the boat may have been intercepted by Australian Navy as part of “Operation Sovereign Borders”, but with no reports of arrivals at Christmas Island detention centre, there are fears the asylum seekers are being forcibly held on the vessel.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young slammed the government’s approach, noting that with more than 30 children thought to be on board.

''It is more like operation prison ships than it is Operation Sovereign Borders,'' said the senator. ''I'm extremely concerned that the government is holding these asylum seekers on board customs vessels. We know they've been doing that in the past with other boats for a number of days, weeks. A prison ship is no place for children.''

Her comments come as Immigration Minister Scott Morrison held what was described by the Guardian as a “near farcical” press conference, refusing to comment on any events involving boats.

They reproduced this exchange with the minister:

Question: So could you clarify, sir, for us at what point does an event become a significant event involving a boat on the water?

Morrison: When you see me here standing and reporting on it.

Question: And you are standing here reporting.

Morrison: I am not. I am saying there is no such report for me to provide to you today. There is therefore no significant event for me to report at sea.

See more from the Guardian here.

Sri Lanka meanwhile, has offered support to the Australian government, with Sri Lankan high commissioner Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe pledging to help their “close friend” with asylum seekers fleeing from the island.

Meanwhile refugee advocates, including Gladston Xavier who works with refugees in camps in southern India, has called on the Australian government to live up to their international obligations.

"Humanitarian considerations need to be the highest priority,” said Xavier. “If this boat is in distress, authorities must give assistance, they cannot let these people die on the high seas. People here are very scared for the suffering of the people on the boat, for their lives."