The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed recent reports in local media, labeling claims that Sri Lanka’s application for BRICS membership was rejected as “incorrect and misleading.”
Sri Lanka formally applied for membership in the BRICS alliance and the New Development Bank (NDB) following Cabinet approval on October 7, 2024. In support of this effort, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath reached out to his counterparts in BRICS member countries to convey Sri Lanka’s interest. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also expressed this interest in a letter to his Russian counterpart.
During the BRICS Outreach Summit in Kazan, Russia, held from October 22-24, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane led Sri Lanka’s delegation and reiterated the country’s intention to join BRICS. The Kazan Declaration from the Summit acknowledged strong interest from the Global South, including Sri Lanka, and introduced a new category of Partner Countries, opening a pathway for greater collaboration.
The Ministry clarified that applications for BRICS membership from various countries, including Sri Lanka, are under consideration and will be reviewed by BRICS member nations in due course. The President of the New Development Bank also welcomed Sri Lanka’s interest in joining, with the Foreign Ministry working alongside government agencies to determine next steps.
Addressing the misinformation in local media, the Ministry underscored that there is no truth to the claim that Sri Lanka’s BRICS application was rejected. The Ministry expressed regret over the misrepresentation of remarks made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the post-cabinet media briefing on November 6.
