Chichi’s Rocket Still Missing, PM’s Answer Contained Factual Errors: Govt Clarifies on SupremeSAT

The Government today (7) issued clarification concerning the recent reports based on controversial SupremeSAT satellite project—widely associated with Rohitha Rajapaksa, also known as ‘Chichi’, the youngest son of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe made a clarification regarding Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s recent response to SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka on the SupremeSAT.

Samarasinghe said social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook had circulated claims that “Chichi’s rocket” had generated a staggering USD 1.5 billion (approximately Rs 3,200 billion). However, the Prime Minister’s official statement in Parliament—based on data from the Board of Investment (BOI)—exposed what he described as a “mistake in statistical recording.”

He then presented the corrected revenue figures for SupremeSAT:

2015-2016: Rs 19.167 million
2016-2017: Rs 28.133 million
2017-2018: Rs 29.1 million
2018-2019: Rs 34.1 million
2019-2020: Rs 42.9 million
2020-2021: Rs 62 million
2021-2022: Rs 87 million
2023 (half-year): Rs 39.5 million

The cumulative income over this period was only Rs 342 million—a stark contrast to the multi-billion dollar figure.

“Those who posted inflated figures on YouTube and Facebook must now correct them,” Samarasinghe said. “This is the actual amount—not what was falsely claimed.” The minister criticised officials for misleading the Prime Minister with inaccurate data.

According to Samarasinghe, SupremeSAT entered into an agreement with China’s Aerospace agency in May 2012, and the satellite was reportedly launched in November that year. However, he noted a key concern: “The satellite that was launched—its return path cannot be traced.”

Despite this, the reported cost of the project was USD 320 million, raising serious questions about the financial trail.

“Who funded this satellite?” Samarasinghe asked, citing allegations that two Chinese banks had provided loans to finance the project—claims which, he said, now require thorough verification.

Samarasinghe also pointed to financial discrepancies in the company’s records. SupremeSAT’s accounts for 2012/2013 reportedly listed Rs 12,104 million (approximately Rs 12 billion) in assets, said to be the value of a leased satellite financed through loans. However, by 2014-2015, these assets had seemingly disappeared from the company’s books.

“There’s no trace of this satellite or the Rs 12 billion in the later accounts,” he said. “How did Rs 12,000 million vanish from the financial records?”

He further highlighted that the company’s income over the years has not been sufficient to cover its operational costs, raising suspicions that the venture has been running at a loss.

Adding to the concerns, SupremeSAT has not submitted financial statements to the BOI since 2022.

When questioned about his involvement with the company, Rohitha Rajapaksa—who is said to hold a degree in Space Engineering—allegedly responded, “I don’t know about this.”

Samarasinghe underscored the national significance of the issue, stating that Sri Lanka has the legal right to send a satellite into orbit, a right the government in 2012 had seemingly exercised. “So where is the satellite now? And where is the company’s Rs 12 billion investment?” he asked.

He concluded by calling for a full investigation into the matter, particularly focusing on the source of funding for the satellite and the disappearance of the Rs 12 billion investment from the company’s accounts.