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 of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka.
| SupremeSAT | |
| Size: | 200px |
| Spaceport: | Xi-Chang, China |
| Company Type: | Private |
| Key People: | Prathiba perera |
| Owner: |  Sri Lanka |
| Headquarters: | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Budget: | US$ 20 million[5] |
| Url: | 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. Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations.
| Satellite | Location | Launched | Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaSat 12 | 87.5°E | 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] |
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] SupremeSAT denies these allegations [9]