SL’s BRICS membership application still under review: Foreign Ministry responds to rejection claims
By: Isuru Parakrama
November 10, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly denied media claims that Sri Lanka’s application to join BRICS has been rejected, clarifying that the nation’s membership request, along with those from other interested countries, remains under review by BRICS members.
In an official statement, the Ministry affirmed that Sri Lanka’s application for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank (NDB) received positive responses, with the President of the New Development Bank expressing openness to Sri Lanka’s involvement.
The Foreign Ministry, in coordination with other relevant government agencies, is set to explore the procedural requirements and timing for Sri Lanka’s potential entry into the institution.
Approved by the Cabinet on October 07, 2004, Sri Lanka’s bid for membership in BRICS was formally initiated through diplomatic channels.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath contacted his counterparts in BRICS nations, expressing Sri Lanka’s interest, whilst President Anura Kumara Dissanayake conveyed similar intentions in a personal message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sri Lanka’s interest in joining BRICS was also prominently highlighted at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Kazan, Russia, held from October 22 to 24, 2024, during which Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane represented Sri Lanka.
During the Summit, BRICS member countries established a new category of “Partner Countries” and expressed appreciation for the growing interest from Global South nations, as stated in the Kazan Declaration.
The Foreign Ministry addressed recent misreporting in local media, which inaccurately suggested that Sri Lanka’s BRICS application had been denied.
The Ministry stressed that such reports have misinterpreted comments made by Foreign Minister Herath at a post-Cabinet briefing on November 06, 2024, adding that the government regrets the misrepresentation.
Sri Lanka’s efforts to join BRICS reflect its broader aspirations to engage with emerging economies and strengthen partnerships with the Global South, aiming to bolster economic and developmental opportunities in the region.
The nation’s ongoing interest in BRICS membership aligns with its foreign policy goals of enhancing strategic alliances and accessing new economic frameworks to support sustainable development.
