International Telecommunication Union has no record of SupremeSAT - Nalinda

Colombo, August 12 (Daily Mirror) - There is no satellite registered under the name of Sri Lanka in the records of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency responsible for global coordination of information and communication technologies, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today (12).

Speaking during the weekly Cabinet briefing, the Minister explained that the ITU’s standard procedure for launching a satellite involves three stages — submitting technical details of the planned satellite network, coordinating with other member states to avoid interference, and notifying final parameters for registration and international recognition. The process typically takes between three and seven years.

“Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, a member of the ITU, holds two geostationary orbital positions — 121.5°E and 50°E. While these positions are reserved for Sri Lanka, other countries such as Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Romania may also operate in them without hindrance,” he said.

According to ITU data, there is currently no satellite named “Sri Lanka” occupying these orbital slots. 

Minister Jayatissa said checks were made for a satellite called SupremeSat One, which was reportedly later renamed ChinaSat Two, but neither name appears in the ITU’s records.

The Minister reiterated that ITU reports show no activity from any satellite operating in Sri Lanka’s allocated orbital positions.