IntelScoops

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya addressed Parliament to clarify details surrounding the SupremeSAT satellite project, a venture that has attracted public attention due to its association with Rohitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Responding to a question from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP D.V. Chanaka, the Prime Minister presented official information from the Board of Investment (BOI), outlining the project’s financial and operational background.

Dr. Amarasuriya explained that SupremeSAT was initiated by Supreme Global Holdings through its subsidiary SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd, which signed an agreement with the BOI on May 23, 2012. The project’s objective was to establish a satellite communication system within the Kandy Industrial Zone, backed by an investment of Rs. 1.828 billion.

Importantly, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Government of Sri Lanka did not provide any financial support to the project. According to BOI records, the investment was classified under Section 13 of the BOI Act as a domestically focused commercial enterprise aimed at delivering telecommunication and broadcasting services to local consumers.

Dr. Amarasuriya also presented revenue figures reported by SupremeSAT over several fiscal years, highlighting consistent financial returns to the country:

2015–2016: Rs. 19,617 million 2016–2017: Rs. 28,133 million 2017–2018: Rs. 29,106 million 2018–2019: Rs. 34,169 million 2019–2020: Rs. 40,960 million 2020–2021: Rs. 62,545 million 2021–2022: Rs. 87,789 million First half of 2023: Rs. 39,590 million

MP D.V. Chanaka acknowledged the Prime Minister’s detailed clarification, noting that SupremeSAT had long been the subject of public speculation—sometimes referred to colloquially as “Chichi’s rocket.” He recalled earlier allegations claiming that a $300 million investment had vanished, concerns that had been echoed even by opposition lawmakers.

However, Chanaka commended Dr. Amarasuriya for providing what he described as the first official and evidence-based response to these claims, underscoring that the project remains active and continues to generate significant revenue.

Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed that her statements were based strictly on verified BOI documentation, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency on this issue.