Sri Lanka targets BRICS membership for economic revival ahead of elections

Sri Lanka has officially announced its intention to apply for membership in the BRICS group, as revealed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

The membership request will be submitted at the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, scheduled for October 23-24, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

In a statement to the diplomatic corps in Colombo, Herath explained that Sri Lanka’s secretary of foreign affairs will represent the nation at the summit, where it aims to garner support from existing BRICS members.

 “We have already reached out to BRICS countries, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, to secure backing for our application,” he noted.

Herath highlighted the significance of BRICS for Sri Lanka, stating, “We consider BRICS to be an effective partnership to realise aspirations for mutually beneficial cooperation, peace, and development, through strengthened and inclusive multilateralism within the framework of the UN Charter.”

Notably, this move comes as Sri Lanka faces significant economic difficulties and continues its debt restructuring efforts, with parliamentary elections on the horizon for November 14.

As the island nation strives to revive its economy, it views BRICS membership as a means to enhance international support and foster cooperation.

BRICS was originally founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanding in 2011 with the inclusion of South Africa. Despite several other nations joining in December 2023, the group retained its original acronym.

By Aghakazim Guliyev