Sri Lanka steps into a new space age next month
View(s):Sri Lanka steps into a new era of space technology by launching the country’s first satellite next month, initiated by The SupremeSAT, a company headed by R.M. Manivannan.
The launch would also make Sri Lanka the 45th nation to own a satellite and makes SupremeSAT the first private sector company in the region to own a satellite, Mr. Manivannan told the Business Times.
He said that the agreement was signed last Tuesday and the satellite would be launched from Beijing at 9.30 pm on Monday November 22 and would be positioned over Sri Lanka within seven minutes.
The total investment for the project is around US $ 360 million which also includes the construction of a satellite Content Management Station and a Space Academy in Kandy which is now in progress.
He said that the funds would be raised by his company and they hope to earn profits after eight years. The company would generate income through providing media space not only to local companies but other countries in the region as well.
The company has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with the state-owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) for the design, manufacturing and launching of the satellite and also to secure marketing facilities of many other satellites owned and operated by CGWIC and the China Satellites Communications Corporation.
He said that the satellite currently stationed in Beijing would carry flags of both Sri Lanka and China. His next objective is to build a satellite which will only carry the Sri Lankan flag. Mr. Manivannan said, “The space industry is a very important part of a country’s industrial system. Sri Lanka is at a very critical and historical stage with regard to the development of the national economy and strengthening the civil society.”
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