Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Levan Jagaryan, revealed that President Anura Dissanayake had formally declined an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the BRICS Summit held in Russia last October, citing the country’s general election as the reason for his absence.
Speaking at a Colombo-based conference titled “The Use of Force in International Law: Russian Perspectives,” Ambassador Jagaryan shared that he personally handed over the official invitation to President Anura during a meeting on October 1st.
“We had a discussion through an interpreter, and I believe the President’s message was clearly conveyed. He said he would not be able to attend the BRICS Summit because of the approaching elections,” the ambassador noted.
The Russian envoy clarified that BRICS membership is a multilateral process, requiring consensus from all existing member states not just Russia. While Russia and China have shown support toward Sri Lanka’s potential interest in joining BRICS, the decision must also involve other current members, including Brazil, the group’s present chair.
“If your government is truly interested, that’s something you need to pursue through diplomatic dialogue with all BRICS countries—particularly Brazil,” Jagaryan emphasized. “The door isn’t closed, but it’s a collective decision.”
His remarks suggest that while the geopolitical interest exists, formal movement on Sri Lanka’s part is yet to materialize, leaving the country’s BRICS aspirations in a state of cautious observation.
