Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement refuting recent media reports claiming that the country’s application for BRICS membership has been rejected.
According to the Ministry, on October 7, 2024, the Sri Lankan Cabinet officially approved the application for membership in both BRICS and the New Development Bank (NDB).
In support of this application, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has reached out to his counterparts in BRICS member countries, while President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also communicated directly with his Russian counterpart.
At the BRICS Outreach Summit held in Kazan, Russia (October 22-24, 2024), Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, leading the Sri Lankan delegation, reiterated the country’s interest in joining the alliance. During the summit, BRICS members also endorsed a new category of Partner Countries and expressed strong support for the increasing interest from nations across the Global South in BRICS membership, as outlined in the Kazan Declaration.
The Ministry clarified that while BRICS membership requests, including Sri Lanka’s, are under consideration, decisions will be made by BRICS members in due course.
