SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. is the first and only Sri Lankan satellite operator.[1] It has partnership with satellite manufacturing institution China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). The company is controversial for its ties with the Rajapaksa family of Sri Lanka.[2]

SupremeSAT deployed the first Sri Lankan satellite, Supreme SAT-I on November 12, 2012, launched on Long March 3B from Xichang, China.[3] Supreme SAT-I is jointly owned by China's CGWIC and SupremeSAT. SupremeSAT becomes the 27th private company in the world to own a satellite.[4]

SupremeSAT is planned to invest over US$320 million, and planning to launch Sri Lanka's first ever communications satellite. It will be called SupremeSAT-III. The SupremeSAT-III will be providing all types of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka.

SupremeSAT
SupremeSAT logo
Agency overview
FormedOctober 25, 2011 (2011-10-25)
TypeSpace agency
HeadquartersColombo, Sri Lanka
Key peoplePrathiba perera
Primary spaceportXi-Chang, China
Owner Sri Lanka
Annual budgetUS$ 20 million[5]
Websitewww.supremesat.com

SupremeSAT has laid foundation stone for the first 'Space Academy' at the Kandy BOI (Board of Investment). An investment of $20 million on Space Academy, which is targeting to train Sri Lankans in space and satellite technology. Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations.

Satellite fleet

SupremeSAT Satellites
SatelliteLocationLaunchedTypeNotes
ChinaSat 1287.5°ENovember 27, 2012SB4000C2Manufacturer: Thales Alenia Space
SupremeSAT-II98°EPlanned mid 2018DFH-4Manufacturer: China Academy Of Space Technology (CAST). Satellite will have KU band.
SupremeSAT-III50°E ?-Planned to shift the businesses from SupremeSAT-I & SupremeSAT-II to SupremeSAT-III.[6]

Controversies

There are numerous allegations that the funding came from the Sri Lankan government and the funds were mishandled.[7] President Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Rohitha Rajapaksa played a key role in the project and is believed to have business links.[8][2][9] SupremeSAT denies these allegations [10]

References

  1. ↑ SupremeSAT : About us
  2. 1 2 "China launches Sri Lanka's first satellite as India watches ties grow". Reuters. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ↑ "Sri Lanka University & World Campus News - Sri Lanka First Satellite Launched-SupremeSAT". lankauniversity-news.
  4. ↑ Lanka steps into space today with first satellite
  5. ↑ dailynews.lk Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Satellites - SupremeSAT".
  7. ↑ ""SupremeSAT" cost Rs 460mn obtained from CEB funds: Champika - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. ↑ "Missed Opportunity". www.sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  9. ↑ Rohitha Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka's first satellite, retrieved 2023-09-04
  10. ↑ ""SupremeSAT not owned by Rohitha Rajapaksa"". 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
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