- Top-level discussions underway
- Minister Samarasinghe demands full investigation
- BOI DG refuses to comment on controversy
Following the revelation that incorrect statistics had been provided to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya regarding the controversial SupremeSAT satellite project launched by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Rohitha Rajapaksa, top Government officials are currently discussing possible actions against the official responsible for supplying the allegedly misleading information, a top-level Government source told The Sunday Morning.
According to sources, under the Establishments Code, the official who had allegedly misled the Prime Minister could face disciplinary measures, including being placed on compulsory leave pending a thorough investigation.
However, no final decision has been made on the matter yet.
It is also alleged that the official responsible for providing the misleading information had been appointed during former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure.
Amarasuriya informed Parliament that the SupremeSAT satellite project had been initiated by Supreme Global Holdings through its affiliated company SupremeSAT Ltd., which signed an agreement with the Board of Investment (BOI) on 23 May 2012.
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.
According to Dr. Amarasuriya, the Government had made no financial contribution to the project.
She presented revenue figures based on BOI data showing consistent financial returns from SupremeSAT over several fiscal years: Rs. 19,617 million (2015-2016), Rs. 28,133 million (2016-2017), Rs. 29,106 million (2017-2018), Rs. 34,169 million (2018-2019), Rs. 40,960 million (2019-2020), Rs. 62,545 million (2020-2021), Rs. 87,789 million (2021-2022), and Rs. 39,590 million in the first half of 2023.
However, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe challenged this account, alleging that the BOI had provided incorrect statistics to the Prime Minister regarding the satellite launch and revenue from SupremeSAT.
He claimed that SupremeSAT had only generated Rs. 342 million in income as a company and not from the satellite itself.
The Minister highlighted several discrepancies in the project, including the declaration of assets worth Rs. 12.14 billion by SupremeSAT in 2012, and investments of nearly Rs. 12 million for a lease-based satellite in 2013 and 2014.
He pointed out that financial reports for 2014 and 2015 omitted details of these previously declared assets, liabilities, and investments, and added that the satellite itself could not be located.
Minister Samarasinghe further called for an investigation into these issues.
Meanwhile, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, BOI Director General Renuka Weerakoon declined to comment on the matter.