Wasantha Soysa
Sri Lankan karateka
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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'.
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
| Wasantha Soysa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander Wasantha Wikrama de Soysa Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 24 October 2015 Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka |
| Style | Karate |
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]
Early life
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]