STORY: BRICS expansion pushes for fairer global system: Sri Lankan expert
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 25, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:01
LOCATION: Colombo
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the views in Sri Lanka
2. various of the BRICS program
3. SOUNDBITE (English): YASIRU RANARAJA, Founding director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka

STORYLINE:

Sri Lanka has formally initiated the application process to join the BRICS group, reflecting the country's desire to diversify its international partnerships and reduce reliance on traditional Western financial institutions, a Sri Lankan expert on international affairs has told Xinhua.

SOUNDBITE (English): YASIRU RANARAJA, Founding director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka
"So the BRICS organization has positioned itself as an alternative body to the current global governance, which is mainly Western-backed. So in the current context, the BRICS nations also highlight or project that form of an alternative angle of the current global governance. As Sri Lanka is a member of other international organizations of the UN and other legal bodies, the BRICS organization is also a good opportunity for the country to be a member. In terms of expanding BRICS, we have seen so many new countries in the Global South were interested in joining the BRICS and they got the membership. It's a good indication for us to understand that most of the countries are not in favor of global financial operations. The expansion of BRICS also unites the Global South for the first time on a common cause." 

At the just-concluded 16th BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan, Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane met senior representatives from BRICS member countries to discuss the country's application to join BRICS.

Ranaraja said that if Sri Lanka's application is successful, the BRICS membership could significantly benefit Sri Lanka by allowing it to access supportive financial instruments that would improve the country's economic development and resilience in the face of global uncertainties.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Colombo.
(XHTV)