Lanka steps into space today with first satellite

Athapattu Bandara

Beginning a new era in communication, Sri Lanka’s first communication satellite, Supreme SAT I will be launched from Xichang Satellite launch centre in China today.

The satellite will be positioned above Sri Lanka in the Geo-Stationary orbit at 87.5 degrees East in just seven minutes and this will be operational for commercial purposes in the region.

Sri Lanka will be the 45th country to own a communication satellite and the third in South Asia after India and Pakistan. The launch of the satellite is a joint venture of the Supreme Group of Sri Lanka and China Satellite Communications Company Limited, a Chinese state-owned venture.

The Supreme SAT will establish a satellite earth station at Pallekele in Kandy soon.

The Board of Investment (BOI) earlier this year entered into a partnership agreement with Supreme SAT (Pvt) Ltd. to launch its own communication satellite in Sri Lanka.

Supreme SAT will become the 27th private company in the world to own a satellite. The company is currently negotiating with the Maldives and Afghanistan to build satellites for them. Supreme SAT has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with China’s State-owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) for the design, manufacture and launch of satellites.