Sri Lanka has officially received the Guinness certificate for the world's tallest Christmas tree. 

It was constructed on the Galle Face Green in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the tree is 238 feet (73 m) tall and opened on Christmas Eve 2016.

The project was handled by the Ports Ministry, under the guidance of the then Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga.

The construction was abandoned halfway through after the Sri Lankan Catholic church criticised it as "waste of money". 

Later, the construction work was recommenced after Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith held discussions with Minister Ranatunga.