Terms & Conditions

Last Revised: July 11th, 2025

This document outlines the specific Terms and Conditions (the “LBR Terms”) governing the application, verification, recognition, and publication of records within the Lanka Book of Records (LBR) platform, operated by Startup Sri (Private) Limited (“Startup Sri,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These LBR Terms are an integral part of, and are subject to, the overarching Startup Sri Terms of Service Agreement and Privacy Policy. By applying for a record, submitting evidence, or otherwise engaging with the LBR platform, you (the “Applicant,” “Record Holder,” or “Participant”) expressly agree to be bound by these LBR Terms, in addition to the general Startup Sri policies.

1. About Lanka Book of Records

Lanka Book of Records is an initiative by Startup Sri dedicated to identifying, verifying, documenting, and celebrating extraordinary human achievements, natural wonders, and unique cultural phenomena originating from or related to Sri Lanka. Our mission is to inspire, promote local talent, and preserve a national registry of remarkable accomplishments.

2. Eligibility for Record Applications

• Age: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to submit an application. Minors (under 18) may apply through a parent or legal guardian who must agree to and sign these LBR Terms on their behalf. The parent/guardian will be fully responsible for the minor’s compliance with all LBR Terms and safety guidelines.
• Capacity: You represent and warrant that you have the full legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and to conduct the record attempt as described. If you are applying on behalf of an organization or group, you warrant that you have the necessary authority to bind that entity and all participants to these LBR Terms.
• Compliance: All record attempts and claims must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards in Sri Lanka.

3. Record Application Process

3.1. Application Submission: * All record applications must be submitted online through the designated LBR portal on the Website. * Applicants must provide accurate, complete, and verifiable information during the application process. Any false or misleading information may lead to immediate disqualification and potential account termination.

3.2. Application Review & Guidelines: * Upon submission, applications will be reviewed by the LBR team to assess their suitability for a record title. This review process may take time due to the volume of applications. * If the application is deemed suitable, LBR will provide specific Record Guidelines tailored to your proposed record. These guidelines will detail the precise rules, criteria, and evidence required for a successful record attempt. * Authorization: A record attempt is only deemed authorized by LBR when you have received: * A unique Claim ID Number for your application. * Official email confirmation from LBR that your proposed record attempt has been accepted and specific guidelines have been issued. * No authorization before official notification. Any attempt made before receiving official authorization from LBR is not recognized and will not be considered for a record title.

3.3. Evidence Submission: * Following your record attempt, you must submit all required evidence strictly in accordance with the Record Guidelines provided. This typically includes: * Witness Statements: Authenticated statements from independent, credible witnesses (not related to the Applicant or directly involved in the attempt). LBR will specify the required number and qualifications of witnesses. * Video Footage: Comprehensive, unedited video footage covering the entire attempt, including setup, execution, and measurement. * Photographs: High-quality color photographs documenting key stages of the attempt and the final result. * Measurement Verification: If applicable, official statements or reports from qualified professionals (e.g., surveyors, statisticians, medical professionals). * Logbooks/Documentation: Detailed logbooks for endurance or prolonged attempts. * Media Coverage: Independent media coverage, if available, can support your claim but is not usually sufficient as primary evidence. * Evidence Retention: LBR is not obligated to return submitted evidence. Please ensure you retain original copies of all materials.

3.4. Verification & Adjudication: * The LBR team will meticulously review all submitted evidence against the specific Record Guidelines. * On-site Adjudication: For certain complex, high-profile, or large-scale record attempts, LBR may, at its sole discretion, offer the presence of an official LBR Adjudicator for on-the-spot verification. This service may incur an additional fee, agreed upon in advance. * Decision: LBR’s decision on the success or failure of a record attempt, based on the submitted evidence and adherence to guidelines, is final.

4. Record Policies & Ethical Guidelines

LBR maintains strict policies to ensure the integrity, safety, and ethical conduct of all records. Prohibited records and activities include, but are not limited to:

• Danger & Harm: Records that pose significant and undue risk of injury or death to participants, animals, or spectators. This includes activities deemed excessively dangerous by LBR.
• Animal Welfare: Records that involve any form of cruelty, harm, exploitation, or excessive stress to animals. All animal records must comply with animal welfare laws and best practices.
• Illegal Activities: Any activity that is illegal under Sri Lankan law or international law.
• Harmful Substances: Records involving the consumption of illegal drugs, excessive alcohol, or other harmful substances.
• Environmental Impact: Records that cause significant, irreversible environmental damage or generate excessive waste.
• Discrimination/Offensive Content: Records that promote discrimination, hate speech, racism, sexism, or any other form of prejudice.
• Food Wastage: Records involving large quantities of food must include a verifiable plan for responsible donation or consumption to prevent wastage.
• Medical Procedures: Records requiring invasive medical procedures, self-mutilation, or activities that compromise health without genuine medical necessity.
• Unverifiable/Subjective Claims: Records that cannot be objectively measured or verified (e.g., “most kind person,” “most beautiful”).
• Political/Religious Agenda: Records explicitly designed to promote a political, religious, or ideological agenda. LBR remains apolitical and neutral.
• Misleading or Fraudulent Attempts: Any attempt to manipulate, falsify, or misrepresent facts or evidence will result in immediate disqualification and permanent ban from LBR.

LBR reserves the right to reject any application or disqualify any record attempt that violates these policies or is deemed unsuitable, inappropriate, or unethical at our sole discretion.

5. Intellectual Property & Grant of Rights

• Your Content: By submitting an application, evidence (including photos, videos, written statements), or any other content to LBR, you grant Startup Sri and LBR a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, and display such content in any media, format, or platform, now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose related to LBR’s operations, promotion, and recognition. This includes, but is not limited to, inclusion in LBR publications (digital and print), website, social media, marketing materials, and any future media.
• No Ownership Transfer: You retain all ownership rights to your original content, but you grant LBR the license described above.
• LBR Trademarks & Branding: All LBR trademarks, logos, and branding elements are the exclusive property of Startup Sri. You may only use LBR branding as explicitly authorized by us (e.g., when displaying a verified record certificate). Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

6. Safety & Risk Assumption

• Applicant Responsibility: You acknowledge and agree that undertaking a record attempt, even if authorized by LBR and conducted according to guidelines, may be inherently dangerous and involve risks of injury, death, or property damage. You are solely and entirely responsible for deciding whether to proceed with any record attempt and for all safety aspects related to its preparation and execution.
• Professional Advice: You must, at your sole expense, obtain all appropriate professional safety advice, conduct thorough risk assessments, and secure any necessary permits, licenses, and insurance relevant to your record attempt.
• LBR Disclaimer: LBR guidelines are for verification purposes only and do not constitute safety advice. LBR does not guarantee the safety of any record attempt. Startup Sri and LBR shall not be liable for any injury, death, or damage sustained by you, participants, or third parties during or in connection with any record attempt, except where such liability is mandated by applicable law due to our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

7. Fees

Fees may apply for:

• Expedited application processing (if offered).
• Official LBR certificates (digital and/or physical).
• On-site adjudication by an LBR official.
• Other premium services as advertised on the Website.

All fees are non-refundable once the service has been rendered or the product (e.g., certificate) issued, as per our separate Return & Refund Policy. Payment processing fees may also apply, charged by third-party payment providers.

8. Disqualification & Removal of Records

LBR reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any record application or remove any previously recognized record for reasons including, but not limited to:

• Violation of these LBR Terms or any other Startup Sri policy.
• Submission of false, misleading, or fraudulent information or evidence.
• Discovery of facts that would have led to rejection during the initial review (e.g., safety concerns, ethical violations).
• Non-compliance with Record Guidelines during the attempt.
• Legal orders or governmental requests.
• If the record is superseded or broken by a new claim.
• If LBR changes its record policies, making a previously recognized record no longer eligible.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Startup Sri and LBR, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates, shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (i) your access to or use of or inability to access or use the LBR platform; (ii) any conduct or content of any third party on the LBR platform; (iii) any content obtained from the LBR platform; and (iv) unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), or any other legal theory, whether or not we have been informed of the possibility of such damage.

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These LBR Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these LBR Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

11. Miscellaneous

• Entire Agreement: These LBR Terms, together with the Startup Sri Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Startup Sri regarding the Lanka Book of Records platform.
• Severability: If any provision of these LBR Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
• No Waiver: Failure of LBR to enforce any right or provision of these LBR Terms will not be considered a waiver of such right or provision.
• Amendments: LBR reserves the right to modify these LBR Terms at any time. We will provide notice of significant changes through the Website or via email. Your continued use of the LBR platform after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

12. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding these LBR Terms or the Lanka Book of Records, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Contact Form: Contact Page
• Phone: +94 75 512 3878

Key Improvements and “Smarter” Aspects:

1. Clear Distinction: Explicitly states that these are specific LBR Terms, supplementing the general Startup Sri T&C.
2. Guinness-like Elements:
   • Authorization for Attempts: Emphasizes that attempts are only recognized after LBR approval and issuance of specific guidelines.
   • Detailed Evidence Requirements: Outlines common evidence types (witnesses, video, photos, measurements) and stresses adherence to guidelines.
   • On-site Adjudication (Optional/Paid): Includes the concept of professional adjudicators for key attempts, mirroring what major record bodies offer.
   • Strict Prohibited Records: A comprehensive list of categories for rejection (danger, ethics, legality, environment, subjective).
   • Safety & Risk Assumption: Clearly places responsibility for safety on the Applicant and limits LBR’s liability in this regard.
3. Intellectual Property: Strengthens the grant of license for LBR to use submitted content for promotional and archival purposes, while clarifying ownership.
4. Disqualification & Removal: Adds reasons for disqualification and the right to remove existing records, similar to how official record books operate.
5. Payment Clarity: Integrates with your existing fee structure and return policy.
6. Legal Robustness: Maintains standard clauses like Indemnification, No Warranty, Limitation of Liability, Governing Law, etc.