Koggala Stilt Fishermen

locally as Ritipanna). This traditional fishing method is highly specialized, practiced by a small

number of families along the island's southern edge, and passed down from fathers to sons for

generations.

The practice developed during World War II when food shortages forced local men to devise a

creative way to fish without boats. The fishermen construct a slender wooden structure, driving

a heavy pole deep into the coral reef, and tying a crossbar called a petta a few feet above the

water. The fishermen wade out into the surf twice a day—at dawn and dusk—climbing onto the

stilts to balance masterfully on the narrow crossbars.

Holding a slender rod made from kithul wood in one hand, they sit quietly for hours, waiting to

catch small herrings and mackerel that gather in the shallow reef pools. This minimalist fishing

method requires immense balance, patience, and skill, as the fishermen must remain perfectly

still to avoid scaring the fish. The sight of these fishermen silhouetted against the crashing

waves and changing colors of the coastal sky is a beautiful expression of artistic harmony

between human tradition and the ocean.