Sri Lanka keen to join BRICS, seeks India's support
- In Reports
- 10:01 PM, May 21, 2024
- Myind Staff
On May 20th, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry expressed his country's interest in joining the BRICS grouping. He highlighted that the group has gained significance as a "good body" since India became a member. Sabry emphasised that Sri Lanka would approach India first when it formally applies to join the BRICS grouping.
"We are eagerly looking forward to BRICS. Additionally, I believe the cabinet has appointed a sub-committee to examine and recommend on this matter. We are keen on exploring multiple options. After all, who wouldn't be interested? Thus, BRICS presents itself as a favourable entity, especially with India's involvement," Mr. Sabry stated in an interview.
"The first country we would engage with is India, seeking their support to facilitate our entry into BRICS. Additionally, I've been invited to participate in the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Russia. I hope to attend and assess the situation there. Personally, I believe we should take BRICS seriously at this juncture," he added.
On January 1, 2024, Russia assumed the chairmanship of BRICS, an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Additionally, four new members—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—joined BRICS, marking a significant expansion. This development underscores the increasing influence of BRICS and its pivotal role in global affairs.
When queried about hosting high-level visits from India, the Sri Lankan Minister highlighted that their President recently visited India, and now they are eager to host the Indian Prime Minister and a distinguished delegation in their country.
"We are anticipating the visit of the Indian Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity when circumstances permit such a visit, as our President already visited last year. Therefore, it's the Indian Prime Minister's turn to visit Sri Lanka," he stated.
"We anticipate a high-level delegation, ideally with a robust business contingent accompanying the esteemed Prime Minister, to visit Sri Lanka in the near future. This will further bolster our relationship, which is currently at an all-time high," he added.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe embarked on an official visit to India on July 21, 2023. This marked President Wickremesinghe's first visit to India since assuming his current responsibilities.
During his visit, President Wickremesinghe engaged in discussions with President Droupadi Murmu and held meetings with the Prime Minister and other Indian dignitaries. The discussions covered a variety of topics of mutual interest between the two nations.
Sri Lanka holds a pivotal role in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region). The visit by President Wickremesinghe served to reaffirm the enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka while delving into opportunities for bolstering connectivity and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors.
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