Sri Lanka’s attempt at setting a new world record for the largest gathering of twins appears to have been foiled because too many showed up to participate.

Organisers struggled to count the pairs – who turned up to a designated sports stadium in the thousands – and were unable to meet the strict registration guidelines set by Guinness World Records.

Huge queues built up around the stadium in Colombo as the pairs waited to get their birth certificates checked, and many appeared to leave before they could be added to the registration records.

The guidelines required all the pairs to remain in the stadium to pose for a mandatory group photo or wait at least five minutes in order for the record to be made.

Wasana Ranasinghe, spokeswoman for campaign group Sri Lanka Twins, told AFP: “We had more than we expected. Getting them all to go through a single entry point was not easy.”

Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Show all 24 1 /24 Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan Navy volunteers twins pose for a picture during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Hamna, Shahna (12), Umaira, Umaima (12) and Radha, Rana (12) pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Buddhist monks Padiyapalalle Sugathasara and Padiyapalalle Vipulasara pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Twins pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins dancers perform during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins participate in an event organized to attempt setting up a record for the largest twins gathering, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Sri Lankan Twins, the organizers of the event which was held at a sports complex stadium claim to represent 28,000 twin and multiples. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Eranga Jayawardena AP Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan Army generals twins, Jayantha (L) and Pooraka (R) Seneviratne, pose for a picture during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record epa08144421 Pairs of Sri Lankan twins engage in taking photograph during an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE EPA Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins dancers perform during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins participate in an event organized to attempt setting up a record for the largest twins gathering, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Sri Lankan Twins, the organizers of the event which was held at a sports complex stadium claim to represent 28,000 twin and multiples. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Eranga Jayawardena AP Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins participate in an event organized to attempt setting up a record for the largest twins gathering, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Sri Lankan Twins, the organizers of the event which was held at a sports complex stadium claim to represent 28,000 twin and multiples. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Eranga Jayawardena AP Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Swini and Srini 28, pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record epa08144415 A pair of twins but in different forces and another pair in the same force during an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE EPA Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Swini and Srini 28, pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record P.A Rishmi and P.A Rashni 2, look on during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Twins pose for photographs during an event to attempt to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record epaselect epa08144423 Pairs of Sri Lankan twins engage in taking selfies during an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE EPA Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record epa08144420 A father takes photographs of his pair of twins during an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE EPA Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins dancers perform during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record epa08144422 A Sri Lankan pair of male twins with their offspring during an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE EPA Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins pose for a picture during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins pose as they participate in an event organized to attempt setting up a record for the largest twins gathering, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Sri Lankan Twins, the organizers of the event which was held at a sports complex stadium claim to represent 28,000 twin and multiples. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Eranga Jayawardena AP Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record 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 January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Sri Lankan twins dancers perform during an event attempting to break the world record for the biggest gathering of twins, in Colombo on January 20, 2020. - A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed on January 20 after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try and break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI AFP via Getty

Ms Ranasinghe said organisers were able to register just over 6,000 pairs, from the ages of three months to 89 years, during a five-hour period.

“We will know in two weeks if we actually qualified for the record or not, but even otherwise, we have managed to raise awareness,” she added.

Many pairs made long journeys to be at the gathering, some reportedly travelling up to 10 hours by train.

Raheen Usman, a 19-year-old from Colombo who attended the event with her twin Farheen, told Reuters: "It's fascinating. I have made a lot of new friends – all my friends are twins now."

The previous world record was set by Taiwan in 1999, where 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets gathered.

If the current attempt does not succeed, organisers and other participants vowed to double down and try again next time.