Sri Lanka's Got Talent's Sudarshana Deshappriya proves a real knockout

SRI Lanka is perhaps best known for its unorthodox tea, blue sapphires, cinnamon and right-arm off-spin wizardry.

But it is no doubt lesser known for producing the most unorthodox contestant ever in a “Got Talent” reality TV series.

Sudarshana Deshappriya, 32, (aka Karate Kid) took to the stage and proceeded to have brick tiles smashed against his arms, before he smashed a tile against his own head and went toppling backwards off a platform.

Award-winning actor and judge Jackson Anthony had seen enough and buzzed him out.

But shockingly, after being helped up, the clearly concussed contestant moved to the front of the stage and did the best he could to split some more tiles before Anthony finally called time on the act, clapping and crying, “Stop it son.”

The Twittersphere was not kind.

But one Twitter user pointed out it was not a laughing matter.

“We respect your strength and we love that strength,” Anthony said after the display. “That’s why we stopped it.”

“You are talented - a warrior - and this is enough to prove that,” Anthony said.

Former Sri Lanka cricketer and judge Tillakaratne Dilshan said, “There are ups and downs at any given time, but you tried hard to achieve your target and I appreciate that. And I’m happy you stood back up and tried to complete your act.”

The two judges voted yes, with Soundarie David Rodrigo saying, “Please be careful.”

Then, Anthony stood up, embraced Deshappriya on stage and changed his vote to “yes”.

The ‘Got Talent’ format is the most successful reality TV show as recognised by the Guinness World Records and it is being shown in more than 65 territories across the globe.

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