Super Sri Lankans
On this day in 1948, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) became independent from British rule. To celebrate this, we give you some of the country’s greatest record holders:
Longest career as theatre actors in the same role
Terence Ranasinghe and his wife Malini from Sri Lanka, have played the major roles in E.R. Sarachchandra's Sinhabahu, in over 5,000 performances from 1961 until 1991 - a total of 30 years.
Longest serving female Prime Minister
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was prime minister of Sri Lanka for a total of 17 years 208 days: 21 July 1960 - 25 March, 1965; 29 May 1970 - 22 July 1977 and 12 November 1994 - 10 August 2000. She was also the world’s first female Prime Minister.
Smallest gun, non-live ammunition
In 1997, goldsmith Gunasingham Sarangan, from Jaffna, Sri Lanka (now resident in London, UK), fashioned a handgun from 22 carat gold measuring 2.8 mm (1.1 in) long and 2.3 cm(0.9 in) high. The gun can be loaded with bullets 0.4 cm(0.15 in) long and weighing 0.2 mg. The piece took a year to make.
Most ushers to one groom
Accompanied by 47 groomsmen, aged between 2 and 63, Arulanantham Suresh Joachim (Sri Lanka) married Christa Rasanayagam (Canada) at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on 6 September 2003.
Most international wickets taken, Cricket
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) has taken 1,178 wickets playing for Sri Lanka, the ICC XI and the Asia XI between 1992 and 2007. The figure comprises 723 Test and 455 one day international wickets.
04 February 2008