Wasantha Soysa

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 went onto become the owner of a night club in Anuradhapura.[4] On 24 October 2015 he was murdered at his own night club in Anuradhapura by an underworld gang.[5]

Wasantha Soysa
BornAlexander Wasantha Wikrama de Soysa
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Died24 October 2015
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
StyleKarate

Early life

He 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 for 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 being successful figure in his career field Soysa made his first Guinness record in 1998 by breaking 525 tiles against his body.[7] On 23 August 2009 he set a new Guinness world record by breaking 12 concrete blocks in one blow with the head.[8] The previous record was held by a Norwegian national, Narve Laeret, who had broken 7 concrete blocks in 2008.[1]

Death

On 24 October 2015 Wasantha Zoysa and 3 other employees were attacked at his own night club in Kadapanaha area, Anuradhapura by a group of about 20 individuals. He was admitted to hospital with serious injuries but died the same day.[9] He was 57 years old at the time of his death.[10]

References
  1. Kuruneru, Percy. "Lankan sets World Record". The Island. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  2. "'Ninja style' murder of karate champion - Guinness book record holder stabbed". Ceylon Today. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  3. adaderana (24 August 2009), Head strong Lankan claims record, retrieved 18 April 2017
  4. Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (26 October 2015). "Karate Champion and Guinness Record Holder Wasantha Soysa alias 'Rajarata Iron man' Hacked to Death in his own Night Club in Anuradhapura". dbsjeyaraj.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. "SF Loku arrested". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  6. "The party that turned into a murder spree". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  7. "Iron man turns world class hero". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 7 March 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  8. "Most concrete blocks broken in a single stack with the head". www.guinnessworldrecords.com. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  9. "Eight Individuals Arrested For Anuradhapura Night Club Attack". www.asianmirror.lk. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  10. "Suspects in killing anuradhapura night club owner identified". www.hirunews.lk. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
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