OREANDA-NEWS  Sri Lankan President Anura Dissayanake expressed interest in joining BRICS in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the republic's ambassador to Moscow Pakir Amza told RIA Novosti.

"Sri Lanka expressed its interest in joining the BRICS family in a letter to President Vladimir Putin from President Anura Dissayanaka. We have also asked other BRICS countries to join as a partner country and expect their positive response," he said.

The head of the diplomatic mission clarified that the Sri Lankan president sent a letter to his Russian counterpart in October this year.

In October 2024, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijita Herath announced that Colombo had decided to apply for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank. He stated that Sri Lanka considers this association as an effective partnership to realize the desire for mutually beneficial cooperation, peace and development through strengthening comprehensive multilateralism within the framework of the UN Charter.

Last December, it was also reported that the Sri Lankan president had asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Colombo's bid to join the BRICS.