Stilt Fishermen of Koggala – Koggala, Sri Lanka - Atlas Obscura

Stilt Fishermen of Koggala

Koggala, Sri Lanka

Actually this "ancient" way of fishing may have started as recently as WW2. 

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This way of fishing in which fishermen sit on poles in the surf to get access to fish in slightly deeper waters is sold to tourists as an ancient  craft in the Galle area of Sri Lanka but local guides (and even government  documents) have claimed that the practice only started in response to food shortages in WW2. The local name for the practice is Ritipanna.

Whatever the truth of the origin the facts are that very few of the “fishermen” actually attempt to catch fish and most do not even have hooks on their lines. They are nowadays just a tourist attraction  and it is rumoured that the genuine fishermen were relocated inland following the 2004 tsunami which devastated the coast, on the day after Christmas  day, and that they are now mainly making a living as farmers  in the hills. The area was one of the worst affected in Sri Lanka.

Even the wooden “stilts” are becoming much less traditional with many upright posts beeing replaced with steel scaffolding  poles.

So heritage is really in the eye of the beholder. The photo op may not be genuine but remains one of the most popular in southern Sri Lanka.

The “fishermen” will, however, charge 1000 rupees (just under $5) if you want to get one of them in the frame. For a westerner, not a fortune and , hey everyone has to make a living so after recovering from the tsunami who can blame  them. The street vendors who sell carved statues of the fishermen also benefit  from the fact that the stilt fishing is still current.  The local tourist board certainly use the fishermen as a selling point for the area and if the practice itself is not kept alive by tourism the memory of it certainly is.

 

Know Before You Go

Off Koggal beach is one of the best places for watching great whales with sperm, blue and fin whales seen regularly.

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