ENGINEERING
The launching of 'Supreme SAT I' Communication satellite
Sri Lanka will step into a new era when 'Supreme SAT I' satellite is launched from the Xichang Satellite launching facility in China.
With the placing of 'Supreme SAT I' in the Geo-Stationary orbit at 87.5 degrees East, Sri Lanka will enter the exclusive club of nations that owns satellites. The satellite will be operated for commercial use.
Sri Lanka is the third South Asian nation after India and Pakistan and the 45th in the world to possess space technology and own a communication satellite. The Supreme Group of Sri Lanka in a joint venture with China Satellite Communications Company Limited will operate the satellite. The satellite is a product of Thales of France.
A satellite earth station will also be set up in Pallekelle in Kandy by the operators. There are plans to launch two more satellites in June 2013 and December 2015. The company entered into an agreement with the Board of Investment (BOI) to launch its own communication satellite in Sri Lanka.
With the launching of the communications satellite Sri Lanka will be able to generate valuable foreign exchange and also save a large amount of foreign exchange that Sri Lanka spends annually to acquire satellite communication services.
The launching which was scheduled to be carried out today has been delayed for five days due to unfavourable weather conditions.
With the post war development activities on full swing the country is poised for a prosperous future. Since the end of the largest humanitarian operations in recent history and the ushering of peace, the country has seen a fast development in the fields of science and technology. In order to keep up with the ever changing world the government has taken steps to encourage private sector participation in the technological field. At present there are a large number of state and private sector companies involved in the information communication field operating mobile communication services, television and radio broadcasting. GIS, satellite navigation, internet services and other related services.
