Preliminary Lanka approval to Musk’s Starlink

The president’s office said Sri Lanka has given preliminary approval to Elon Musk’s Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite unit, to provide internet services there.

Sri Lanka fast-tracked the approval process after Musk met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Indonesia last month on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum.

The president’s office said in a short statement that Sri Lanka’s telecommunications regulator gave preliminary approval after a public consultation.

The president’s office said Musk and Wickremesinghe had discussed ways to expand internet connectivity in rural Sri Lanka and potential collaboration on renewable energy.