China to launch Sri Lanka's first satellite

Sri Lanka's first satellite will be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Chinda on 22nd November, reports ColomboPage.

The announcement was made by none other, than the little less well known - Rohitha Rajapaksa - President Mahinda Rajapaksa's youngest son on Saturday.

The satellite will be operational for commercial purposes by early June 2013. The project is run by SupremeSAT, a BOI approved company that is in an exclusive agreement with China's state owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC).

Rohitha Rajapaksa said that the logistics for a space station is being sought at present, and that the station would employ 200 Chinese trained professionals.

Speaking to a local newspaper, he also announced that Sri Lanka was planning to launch its own satellite in 2015.

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