My brother’s rocket was a private investment: Namal

earlier sajith had said USD 320 million had been spent on the SupremeSAT launch

• If the government has invested in it, then it should be brought before the COPE committee
• If Sajith wants to inquire about the investment, that is up to him

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), MP Namal Rajapaksa responded to discussions surrounding the recent rocket launch by India, emphasizing that people often associate it with the rocket sent by his brother.

Addressing a seminar organised by the SLPP, he said he was asked this in parliament as well.

“The rocket was sent by my brother as a private sector project. If there is government investment in it, it should be brought before the COPE committee.
“But we cannot question an investment made by a private businessman. If Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa wants to inquire about the investment, that is up to him, and that is his vision.

“He can investigate into the incident and bring it up before the COPE committee if there is government investment.

“These statements are limited to mud sliding in political environments, and we cannot develop the economy with this mud sliding.

“The economy of the country cannot be built by dashing a political character, damaging the names of their children and burning their houses,” MP Rajapaksa said. 
Last week, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that Sri Lanka had spent USD 320 million for the launch of SupremeSAT in 2012.