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Buwallah the ideal ‘bite’
The ‘buwallah’ (octopus) season is upon us and as one drives along the main road beyond Galle, you cannot fail seeing vendors selling this particular delicacy. ”Cooked or fried buwallah is an ideal bite especially when imbibing strong drinks” says D. Siripala a fish monger by occupation.
Siripala who switches to selling buwallah during this season said the fishermen from whom he purchases this particular delicacy make their catch when the water is shallow and the waves are calm. ”They stick an iron rod among the rocks and the buwallah wraps itself around it” he said.
These days the sea is calm and fishermen find the octopus an easy catch. With the onset of the tourist season the demand for this delicacy may have increased said Dr. Terney Pradeep of the Department of Oceanography, University of Ruhuna. Dr. Pradeep added that there had been no proper study had been conducted on the octopuses of Sri Lanka.
Depending on its size, an octopus fetches between Rs. 600/ to Rs 1,800/ each, and has become an extremely lucrative business for a number of fishermen in Galle.
Many fish vendors switch to selling the 'buwallah' at this time of the year
'Buwallahs' are plentiful during this time of the year and sellers can be seen displaying their ware as one travels beyond Galle
There has been no study done on the octopuses of Sri Lanka
The cost of an octopus varies depending on its size