Summary
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 LKR 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[vague] of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka.
 SupremeSAT logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 25, 2011 |
| Type | Space agency |
| Headquarters | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Key people | Prathiba perera |
| Primary spaceport | Xi-Chang, China |
| Owner |  Sri Lanka |
| Annual budget | US$ 20 million[5] |
| Website | www.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.[needs update] Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations.[when?]
Satellite fleet edit
| Satellite | Location | Launched | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaSat 12 | 87.5°E | November 27, 2012 | SB4000C2 | Manufacturer: Thales Alenia Space |
| SupremeSAT-II | 98°E | Planned mid 2018 | DFH-4 | Manufacturer: China Academy Of Space Technology (CAST). Satellite will have KU band. |
| SupremeSAT-III | 50°E | ? | - | Planned to shift the businesses from SupremeSAT-I & SupremeSAT-II to SupremeSAT-III.[6] |
Controversies edit
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 edit
- ^ SupremeSAT : About us
- ^ a b "China launches Sri Lanka's first satellite as India watches ties grow". Reuters. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ "Sri Lanka University & World Campus News - Sri Lanka First Satellite Launched-SupremeSAT". lankauniversity-news.
- ^ Lanka steps into space today with first satellite
- ^ dailynews.lk Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Satellites - SupremeSAT".
- ^ ""SupremeSAT" cost Rs 460mn obtained from CEB funds: Champika - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ "Missed Opportunity". www.sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ Rohitha Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka's first satellite, retrieved 2023-09-04
- ^ ""SupremeSAT not owned by Rohitha Rajapaksa"". 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.