Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Monday, January 20, 2020

ANALYSIS: Sri Lanka: 'Too many twins' hinder world record attempt


An attempt to set a world record in Sri Lanka for the largest gathering of twins appears to have failed after too many turned up.
The organisers of the event - Sri Lanka Twins - called on the island's twins to gather at a sports stadium in the capital, Colombo, to try to break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999.
The record then was 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets together in one place.
But a bigger than expected crowd flocked to the stadium on Monday, causing long queues and meaning strict rules on registration were hindered.
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Sri Lankan twins pose for a picture during the Sri Lanka Twins event in Colombo on 20 January 2020Image copyrightAFP
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Twins turned up in expectation of a record... but there were long queues as birth certificates were checked...
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Twins wait in the line to register their names during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 20 January 2020Image copyrightREUTERS
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...with participants needing to pose for photographs and wait for at least five minutes.
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Sri Lankan twins pose for a group picture at the Sri Lanka twins event in Colombo on 20 January 2020Image copyrightAFP
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The organisers were aiming to break the world record, with 5,000 pairs of twins.
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Twins pose for photographs at the Sri Lanka Twins event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 20 January 2020Image copyrightREUTERS
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There are 14,000 pairs of twins registered with the organisation in Sri Lanka, AFP reports.
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Twins pose for photographs at the Sri Lanka Twins event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 20 January 2020Image copyrightREUTERS
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Two army generals, Jayantha and Pooraka Seneviratne...
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Sri Lankan Army generals twins, Jayantha (L) and Pooraka (R) SeneviratneImage copyrightAFP
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...led a contingent of twins from the Sri Lankan military.
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A pair of twins but in different forces, and another pair in the same force attend the Sri Lanka Twins event at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo on 20 January 2020Image copyrightEPA
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The organisers say the huge turnout meant they had probably been unable to meet the strict guidelines set by Guinness World Records...
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Buddhist monks Padiyapalalle Sugathasara and Padiyapalalle VipulasaraImage copyrightREUTERS
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... although it will be two weeks before they find out if they qualified for the record or not.
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Twins wait in line to register at the Sri Lanka Twins event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 20 January 2020Image copyrightREUTERS
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The organisers have vowed to set up another event, and many participants said they would be happy to try again.
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Navy volunteer twins pose for a picture at the gatheringImage copyrightAFP
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All pictures subject to copyright.

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