Sri Lanka claims tallest artificial Christmas tree

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka unveiled a towering Christmas tree, claiming to have surpassed the world record despite constructions delays and a shorter-than-planned product. The 238-foot artificial tree is 59 feet taller than the record-holder, organizers said. The tree is decorated with more than 1 million natural pine cones painted red, gold, green and silver, 600,000 LED bulbs and topped by a 20-foot shining star. The tree cost $80,000 and was criticized by the Catholic Church as a "waste of money."