Minister Nalinda weighs in on ‘Chichi’s Rocket’ controversy

9 August 2025 03:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 29 Bookmark

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Health and Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has addressed the controversy surrounding the SupremeSAT satellite, widely referred to as “Chichi’s Rocket,” following conflicting statements in Parliament over its status and earnings.

The issue resurfaced after Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, responding to a question from MP D.V. Chanaka, disclosed the income generated from the SupremeSAT project.

However, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected the claim, alleging that the Board of Investment (BOI) had provided inaccurate data and insisted that the satellite was “still missing.”

SupremeSAT later issued a statement reaffirming that its satellite remains in orbit at 87.5° East and clarifying that no government funds were used for the venture.

Commenting on the matter, Minister Jayatissa asked, “Do you think that if a satellite generated such high income, the Rajapaksas would have stayed silent for the past 13 years? Do you think they would do something benefiting the country without also benefiting themselves?”

He added that ongoing investigations would reveal the truth, cautioning that the project should not be examined in isolation but considered alongside other activities linked to the Rajapaksas.

Comments - 29

Apollo 13 Saturday, 09 August 2025 04:15 PM

Another petty statement from another joker in the NPP government. If an investigation is conducted about a project, how can other matters totally outside the realm of that project influence the investigation? SupremeSAT was a project. If an authority investigating into this project found no evidence of wrongdoing, you can't cite another project initiated by the Rajapaksas that may indicate some malpractice and conclude "SupremeSAT project, too, was a corrupt project". This shows the narrow-minded nature of the MPs of the NPP government.

32 51

Rana Saturday, 09 August 2025 04:20 PM

Sri Lanka should put few more of those chichi rockets up in the sky and that will make enough income to run the county. No need of tea coconut and rubber

9 44

Zarook Thursday, 14 August 2025 05:12 PM

Rocket is with Pramishka.

0 0

Yoga Saturday, 09 August 2025 04:27 PM

Ha Ha, damage control. Thanks to multiple sources of information, general public is quite informed and knowledgeable.

6 46

Gerard Saturday, 09 August 2025 04:39 PM

When are these people going to stop making fools of themselves? Investigate what? It has been established that this is private company and duly established in the country under the BOI guidelines. Whether it made profits or not is not your business and whether the Rajapaksas did not sell this for their own promotion is not for you to investigate. What you should investigate really are the fools in your government who use this to mislead the people and get votes. Although, it is none of your concern, apparently the particulars of the satellite could be checked by those who are conversant in this subject, which obviously none of you are. Lose the smirk in your face and just drop it and limit the damage. You are looking like a clown after the backsides of the whole lot you got wacked in this incident.

12 50

Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 09 August 2025 04:48 PM

Very speculative irresponsible statements. Rajapakshas stayed silent when Uganda money accusations were made too. Either Rajapakshas had not robbed what Pachawatte office had alleged or they themselves are not aware of what they had robbed. Whatever it is, so far the pacha government has not been able to bring up a single significant case against the big loots claimed during last 10 years. But one thing is clear, the pachawatte office is very friendly with the LTTE diaspora.

14 47

Insider Saturday, 09 August 2025 05:09 PM

Absolutely true. All this time why did Chichi and SupremeSat stay silent while all these accusations regarding this was hurled about. Please examine how it was set up who owns it and was black money used to set it up.

34 25

Fact Check Saturday, 09 August 2025 05:12 PM

Why did Chanaka ask this suddenly. Was it a set-up to catch Harini who was given wrong figures. Chanaka should be questioned first. Conspiracy??

36 27

Nimal R Saturday, 09 August 2025 05:27 PM

I thought at least this JVP guy has common sense and understands English. If you are disputing the statement of SupremeSAT, take it up with them instead of beating round the bush. Rohitha Rajapakse has said he has been a technical director only and therefore not connected to any financial matters. This is another swollen headed minister of JVP who said that he cannot disclose the details contained in the pacts with India but people will have to obtain them using the freedom of information act. How stupid? This government is one which consists of ministers with least mental capacity.

8 40

S P Saturday, 09 August 2025 06:59 PM

This controversy is purely the making of this government and its resolving too is not the responsibility of the opposition (especially the pohottuwa). From start to finish it was handled by the NPP/JVP and didn’t they make a right royal mess out of it! Wish at least now they stop this childish behaviour and act as a responsible government working on real issues. Almost a year is gone and what have they produced? Is the country any better from the time they took over in Sept 2024? Compare now and then. You get the answer!

8 36

Lies over lies Saturday, 09 August 2025 07:11 PM

// Do you think that if a satellite generated such high income, the Rajapaksas would have stayed silent for the past 13 years // The issue is not the income. The issue is that your party claimed that $300 million out of tax money were spent on this project.

8 31

Sadun Saturday, 09 August 2025 08:34 PM

Absolutely. Agree.

10 15

Looters Saturday, 09 August 2025 08:37 PM

This was assembled using stolen state funds. All the royals were robbing the state funds for the their entertainment.

33 12

RanjithT Saturday, 09 August 2025 09:02 PM

So called minister of health, why don't you stick to your field of responsibility. There are more than what you can chew in the health sector. It appears that you are very busy doing other peoples work.

9 36

Ck Sunday, 10 August 2025 10:02 AM

Being a Spin Doctor, this is the best he could do.

2 10

Lord Carrington Saturday, 09 August 2025 09:43 PM

Another actor in the controversial media theatrics. This seems to be the trend followed by the government since coming to power to divert the attention of masses away from real economic issues.

7 31

Ck Sunday, 10 August 2025 10:05 AM

This ploy will have its 'Sell-by-Date'.

0 2

Bang Bang Tissa Sunday, 10 August 2025 12:57 AM

To divert from Pramiska’s hotel saga

0 6

Harin Fernando Sunday, 10 August 2025 02:11 AM

Well the Rajapaksha clan, with the officers, were very clever in creating bogus documents. For all the people who believe that the government made 80 billion income a year, if such a high income was earned, then Inland Revenue themselves would have separately disclosed about such earnings in their publications.

7 1

Ranjith Fernando Sunday, 10 August 2025 05:23 AM

It is worth asking who these investors are, and what motivates their apparent generosity in designating the Sri Lankan government as the beneficiary of substantial dividends, year after year, over such an extended period.

7 2

Foot note Sunday, 10 August 2025 05:32 AM

There seems a policy conflict btw. NPP

3 4

lion Sunday, 10 August 2025 05:51 AM

Dear Daily Mirror , why not you do a investigative journalism and bring the truth on this matter. People will be happy to read it and ascertain what has really happened.

0 5

Sahodara Samagama Sunday, 10 August 2025 06:41 AM

Dr Asoka Ranwala will be sent to space to ascertain whether the satellite is positioned as reported said Bimal Ratbag yesterday

0 4

Gokula Siripathiarachchi Sunday, 10 August 2025 07:52 AM

NASA/NORAD tracks every satellite in orbit and provides something called a TLE ( Two Line Element) which gives orbital parameters and basic information about the satellite. This information is available publicly for anyone to search. There is no NORAD TLE for SpremeSat 1 which was the so called Chichi's rocket so it doesnt exist.

3 4

Luxman Maddumahewa Monday, 11 August 2025 03:15 AM

But your PM and Samarasinghe Minister confirmed that there is a satellite.

0 0

Mizaru Sunday, 10 August 2025 10:23 AM

There is more to this fiasco which very few seem to know or understand. There are many types of satellites and one of the most critical are the ones in geostationary orbit. What is ment by geostationary orbit is that the satellite orbits at the earth at same angular velocity as the earth. As such the earth sees the satellite as stationary relative to earth. These satellites are orbiting the earth at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above the Earth's equator. These locations are limited as Sri Lanka too has a slot in space to lauch its own geostationary satellites. It seems Chicchi and company has leaded or sold this location or space real estate to a Chinese company. This is very serious and needs to be addressed. I am sure the PM and most in the cabinet are clueless about this issue. I heard Wasantha Samarasinghe mention a royalty and he may be referring to this issue.

4 7

Neel Ahmed Sunday, 10 August 2025 11:54 AM

Yes' , I too agree with you. As per our experience we know eaith and every regime of Srilanka recently on power had "National Joker" this doctor became most popular joker. The bottom line is what they preached they cannot reverse. So fabricating more stores and images to postpone as possible. People know what is going on.

1 1

Prof. Janz Udawatte Sunday, 10 August 2025 01:57 PM

Doctor Nalinda make sure both sons of Mahinda should go to Welikade as early as possible. Never allow rogues to move around and cheat the masses. Chichi's rocket is a Racket by Rajapakshes'. Billions they earned cheating our money.

3 4

Ambalame Pina Sunday, 10 August 2025 04:10 PM

Another talking puppet with no action! Is he a real MBBS man?

0 3

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