July 22 (Daily Mirror) - Elon Musk is likely to arrive in Sri Lanka next month to launch his Starlink satellite-based internet service in Sri Lanka, an official said yesterday.

The government, earlier, gave Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, preliminary approval to provide internet services there. Afterwards, the government fast-tracked the process by even amending the Telecommunications Regulatory Act after 28 years.

Asked for a comment on the latest situation, Director General of Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Madushanka Dissanayake told Daily Mirror basic template for licensing the operation of Starlink is being done at the moment . He said the new rules and regulations for this purpose would be set in accordance with the new Act.

“We have given time till the end of July to complete the task. However, we are sure that we can complete the task well ahead of time,” he said .

Responding to a query about the timeline for Musk’s arrival, he said the visit would take place in August.

After the launch, he said it would take another three more weeks to operationalize the service.

“They need such long time to lay the infrastructure for operation by installing equipment and all,” he said.

Starlink will be offered a service providers’ licence under the new Act.