Sri Lanka makes Guinness world record history with Merak 2026 sensory board

The Guinness world record-winning team from Merak and The Treehouse International

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick (left) and Merak and The Treehouse International Founder Dr. Anton James

Merak and The Treehouse International Founder Dr. Anton James (centre) and Guinness World Records Official Senior Adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar (fifth from left) with the world record-winning Merak team 

In a landmark achievement for Sri Lanka and the global autism advocacy community, Merak 2026 has officially secured the Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Sensory Board, marking a historic milestone in the intersection of art, inclusion, sustainability, and public awareness.

Spearheaded by The Tree House International, Merak 2026 brought together an extraordinary coalition of artists, universities, schools, international organisations, and community groups to create a record-breaking installation designed to reflect and celebrate neurodivergent experiences. Stretching 60 metres, each segment of the board incorporates a mix of tactile elements, from recycled ocean plastic to show sustainability, repurposed materials, and everyday sensory objects such as zips, sequins, and fidget components, creating an immersive educational experience that fosters empathy and understanding of autism in an artistic manner to tell a story of autism and individual stories.

The completed record-breaking sensory board was unveiled at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on 16 and 17 May, giving visitors a chance to experience the installation first hand.

Selected sensory boards will now travel around Sri Lanka and the world to various parliaments, art galleries, hospitals, libraries, and malls to tell the story behind each board, carrying messages of autism awareness, inclusion, environmental sustainability, and community engagement, while positioning Sri Lanka as a neurodivergent friendly country on the global stage.

The boards are available for purchase, giving institutions, corporate organisations, and individual buyers a chance to own a piece of this historic advocacy initiative. 

Originally conceived as an ambitious awareness initiative, the project has evolved into a powerful national movement, which The Tree House International Founder Dr. Anton James and visionary behind Merak describes as a collective triumph. 

“This project has been 21 months in the making. From the beginning, our goal was never simply to achieve a Guinness World Record, but to use it as a platform to bring autism awareness into mainstream public conversation and reach people who may not normally attend autism awareness events. The art component helped engage creative communities, while the beach clean-up and recycled ocean waste initiative attracted youth and environmental groups. Today, this has become one of the largest collaborative autism awareness initiatives in the world, bringing together communities across Sri Lanka and the Maldives. But this is only the beginning. There is still so much more work to do, and I am deeply grateful to every school, artist, volunteer, organisation, and community that came together to make this vision possible,” Dr. James said. 

Title Sponsor of the event Nyne Hotels Founder Nayantara Fonseka said: “At Nyne, we believe hospitality extends far beyond creating beautiful spaces. It is about how we engage with communities and support causes that truly matter. Supporting Merak 2026 and its’ important mission of raising awareness for autism has been deeply meaningful to us. This record is not only a proud achievement for Sri Lanka, but also a powerful reminder that when creativity, compassion, and collective purpose come together, they can inspire understanding, encourage inclusion, and create a more accepting society for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.” 

Title Sponsor The Kayden Cares Framework Founder Soshana Wijeratne Austin said: “By sponsoring the sensory wall, Kayden Cares brings its framework to life – turning our commitment to care into something people can see, feel, and experience every day.” 

Guinness World Records Official Senior Adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar was present to verify the attempt, and wholeheartedly commended the project. 

“These are all almost pieces of art. The kind of detailing, the kind of elements used, the kind of colour schemes and the effort gone into making and putting all of this together is commendable, and because it’s being done for such a good cause, I am even more excited to be present here and officially confirm this record as successful. You are all officially amazing,” he said. 

The initiative saw widespread participation from leading academic institutions, including the University of Jaffna, University of Moratuwa, and KIU University, alongside contributions from schools, community organisations, and diplomatic missions, including the British High Commission in Sri Lanka. 

“Merak’s vision, to ensure that at least one person in every household has an understanding of autism, speaks to the heart of meaningful and lasting change,” said British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick. “It highlights that genuine awareness begins with how each of us understands and responds to autism in our everyday lives. I warmly commend Merak for its leadership and commitment.”

Artists and contributors from across the country infused the installation with diverse cultural and creative perspectives, transforming the sensory board into a living expression of shared humanity. Community outreach programs conducted in parallel with the project further amplified its impact, reaching underserved regions and fostering grassroots awareness of autism.

International partners such as the Maldivian Education Ministry and the Care Society Charity in the Maldives also created boards for the project, while other global organisations reached out with messages of heartfelt support. 

“Autism awareness remains a challenge in many parts of the world. In many countries, evidence-based interventions such as behaviour therapy are still not widely known or accessible, or are practised without adequate certification, leaving many families without effective and ethical support,” said International Behaviour Analysis Organisation (IBAO) President Dr Michael M. Mueller, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to Sri Lanka.

“The IBAO is committed to collaborating with the Behaviour Analysis Registration Board in Sri Lanka to support the development of accessible, evidence-based behaviour therapy services nationwide. We stand in solidarity with Merak 2026,” he added.

Psychological Society of Ireland President Sarah Cassidy said: “I am deeply aware of the necessity of challenging harmful public misconceptions that erase autistic experiences and force masking before autistic people are invited to take part. Sensory processing for the autistic community can be both painfully overwhelming and deeply joyful. Meaningful inclusion can only progress when we truly celebrate the multi-layered and complex experiences of autistic lives.”

As Sri Lanka celebrates this global recognition, Merak 2026 stands as a testament to what can be achieved when creativity, purpose, and community come together, not just to break records, but to build understanding.