| Wasantha Soysa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander Wasantha Wikrama de Soysa Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 24 October 2015 Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka |
| Style | Karate |
Wasantha Soysa was a Karate champion and a Guinness record holder who has approximately twelve world records, [1] including breaking twelve slabs of concrete in one blow with his head, and breaking 522 clay tiles. [2] [3] His nickname was the 'Rajarata Iron Man'.
Soysa was born in Sri Lanka and later became the owner of a night club in Anuradhapura. [4] On 24 October 2015, he was murdered at his own night club by an underworld gang. [5]
Soysa was born in Anuradhapura as Alexander Wasantha Wikrama de Soysa. His father, Alfred de Soysa, was a businessman who was executed in 1972 after being found guilty in the notorious Kelettewa murder case in 1960s. [6]
Soysa completed his education at St. Joseph's College and began to learn martial arts in 1974 under renowned karate instructor D.A. Welgama.
After becoming a successful figure in his field, Soysa made his first Guinness record in 1998 by breaking 525 tiles against his body. [7] On 23 August 2009 he broke a Guinness world record by breaking 12 concrete blocks in one blow with his head, [8] the previous record having been held by a Norwegian national, Narve Laeret, who had broken 7 concrete blocks in 2008. [9]
On 24 October 2015, Wasantha Soysa and three other employees were attacked at Soysa's own night club in Kadapanaha area, Anuradhapura by a group of about 25 individuals. He was admitted to hospital with serious injuries, but died the same day. [10] He was 57 years old. [11]