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Satellite project: Samarasinghe disputes PM’s response, but statement that SL suffered no loss goes unchallenged

Published

1 year ago

2025/08/8

Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe yesterday told Parliament that the Board of Investments (BOI) had given the wrong statistics to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya over a satellite launch and revenue from SupremeSAT Ltd.

Claiming that SupremeSAT had generated only Rs. 342 million, the Minister said SupremeSAT had generated income as a company and not from the satellite.

However, he did not say that the government of Sri Lanka had spent USD $ 320 million on the satellite project, a claim that the NPP made during its election campaigns.

Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe further stated that several discrepancies had been found regarding the Supreme SAT satellite project.

He said that as per current data, Supreme SAT Pvt. Ltd. had signed an agreement with the BOI in May 2012 to establish a satellite system and provide telecommunication services, and the project had been launched in November of the same year.

The minister further said that data showed that Rs. 12.14 billion had been declared as assets by the company in 2012, and financial reports of 2013 and 2014 show an investment of nearly Rs. 12 million for a lease-based satellite.

He pointed out that, however, the financial reports of 2014 and 2015 did not contain details of the previously declared assets, liabilities, and investments, adding that the whereabouts of the satellite also cannot be located.

Minister Samarasinghe said that he had called for an investigation into the matter.Responding to a query from the Opposition, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday told Parliament that no financial contribution was made by the Government of Sri Lanka toward the project. Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya said that the SupremeSAT satellite initiative was launched by Supreme Global Holdings, through its affiliated company SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd, which entered into an agreement with the Board of Investment (BOI) on May 23, 2012.

Responding to a question raised by SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka, the Prime Minister, provided a detailed account of the project’s financial and operational background, based on official data from the BOI.

The project aimed to establish and operate a satellite communication system within the Kandy Industrial Zone, with a total investment of Rs. 1.828 billion.

The Prime Minister said that no financial contribution was made by the Government of Sri Lanka toward the project.

According to BOI records, the investment was classified under Section 13 of the BOI Act, identifying it as a domestically focused commercial venture.

The satellite system was designed to provide telecommunication and broadcasting services to local consumers. Dr. Amarasuriya also presented revenue figures reported by SupremeSAT over several fiscal years, indicating 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, and First half of 2023: Rs. 39,590 million.

Dr. Amarasuriya reiterated that her response was based solely on BOI documentation.

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

19 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.