The Stilt Fishermen of Sri Lanka
If you are interested in photography you should know that sunset is the best time of the day. But of course, it is the most instagrammable shot you can ever take in Sri Lanka. For this reason, even those few original ones who returned to live in the coastal areas don’t really need to hand down this craft from father to son as they used to once do. Home » Things to do and see » River Safari in Polwatta Polwatta River Weligama Polwatta river is located in the south of Sri Lanka …
This type of fishing is most common in the southern coastal cities of Koggala, Kattaluwa and Ahangama. A vertical pole with an attached cross bar is surrounded at the bottom of a shallow or river bank. The majority of fishermen who practice this method of fishing are those who do not have sophisticated fishing equipment, the Funday Times learns. All they need is a ritipanna which is made by tying a small cross bar on to a pole, and the pitta made of kithul.
A fisherman goes up a stilt erected on a coral reef, about 2m high & dangles a fishing rod to catch oysters, fish & shrimp. This tradition is a tourist attraction in Sri Lanka & Vietnam & the fishermen are super eager to teach you how it's done. #PhotoPhridayOnKISS #BUCKETLIST pic.twitter.com/CRvWFYHK86
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Those who wish to learn more about stilt fishing should book a tour to Mirissa beach, Hikkaduwa Beach or Unawatuna Beach. Some of the fishermen are quite happy to show how they fish, and speak about their lives. There are also opportunities to try the activity if interested; not to mention the breathtaking photographic views provided by the fishermen silhouetted against the horizon at dawn and dusk. These men can make a living simply with the help of two wooden poles to make a stilt. One pole is fixed onto the sea bed and the other is placed like a cross bar and acts as a plank for the fishermen to sit on.
This method is known as stilt fishing and has been the inspiration for many famous paintings and photographs. This attractive view of stilt fishermen is a huge attraction for tourists. Stilt fishing season is at its greatest during the southwest monsoon because fishermen using boats also end up on stilts since the sea is too rough. At sunrise and sunset, stilt fishermen line up on the southern coastal belt. The evening stilt fishing session is usually to interest foreigners, and this ends at sunset.
A fisherman goes up a stilt erected on a coral reef, about 2m high & dangles a fishing rod to catch oysters, fish & shrimp. This tradition is a tourist attraction in Sri Lanka & Vietnam & the fishermen are super eager to teach you how it's done. #PhotoPhridayOnKISS #BUCKETLIST pic.twitter.com/CRvWFYHK86
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Afterward, the fishermen use rods to bring in small mackerels and spotted herrings. The catch they collect is placed into a bag tied around their waist or to the pole. Stilt fishing, also known as Ritipanna in Sinhalese, is a traditional fishing method in Sri Lanka. It came into being during World War II when there were food shortages, and all the fishing spots were overcrowded. Due to this, it led some innovative fishermen to try fishing in the water. If you want to witness stilt fishing, be sure to visit the southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka.
It consists of a single pole and crossbar planted out in the sea close to the seashore, on which fishermen balanced for hours and hours in order to fish their daily needs. This whole process might sound easy, but it requires a lot of patience and endurance. The first thing you must do when stilt fishing is striking balance while sitting on the wooden plank. After that, you need to be very quiet, and sometimes it requires several hours of waiting before you can catch any fish. The long hours of waiting for fish causes numbness in the feet, something that most people aren’t able to bear, but it’s something that Sri Lankan fishermen have mastered.
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This art is popularly seen in areas such as Ahangama, Koggala, Welipenna, Kathaluwa and Thalarambe. Fisher folk climb onto this stick and settle on the pole for a few hours in an effort to catch some fish. Gurubebeila in Weligama area is one of the places you can find a friendly local to challenge you to a bit of stilt fishing. You can always find a way to make it worth their while to lend you some time on their family pitch at daybreak or sunset. Stilt fishing is one of the most ancient fishing methods used in Sri Lanka.
Dion Liriano is a 51-year-old American zookeeper who has retired from the business. He was once a highly successful director of the Zoo and Aquarium, but he has since hung up his gloves and moved on to other ventures. Dion's passion for animals began at a young age, when he would help his father care for their family pets. This love grew exponentially when he started working at the zoo; Dion quickly became one of the most experienced keepers in the business. He credits his success to the relationships he built with both staff and animals over the years.