"Sri Lanka expressed its interest in joining the BRICS family in a letter to President Vladimir Putin from President Anura Dissanayake. We have also addressed other BRICS countries with a request to join as a partner country and expect their positive response," Amza said.
He specified that the Sri Lankan president had sent a letter to his Russian counterpart in October.
In October 2024, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Colombo had decided to apply for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank.
He said Sri Lanka views BRICS as an effective partnership to realise its aspiration for mutually beneficial cooperation, peace and development through strengthening comprehensive multilateralism within the framework of the UN Charter.
In December, the Sri Lankan leader asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Colombo's bid to join BRICS.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association.
In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, according to the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship website.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
