Stilt fishermen of the southern coast
Stilt fishing, termed as ritipanna, is a traditional fishing method practiced by fishermen along the Southern coast, mainly in areas like Welipenna, Koggala, Kumbalgama, Aranwala, Midigama, Thalarambe and Kathaluwa. These are the fisher folk who engage in fishing from a narrow pole tied to a stick installed on the sea bed. For the scenic picture it creates, stilt fishermen become a huge attraction for those passing-by, especially tourists.
During a tour down South, the Funday Times had the opportunity to have a chat with some of these fisher folk. 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 (the stilt) which is made by tying a small cross bar on to a pole, (made of Kaduru wood) and the pitta (the fishing rod) made of kithul. Fishermen themselves create the equipment, using their expertise. Activity reaches its peak during the monsoon season because those who go on fishing boats also take to stilt fishing when the sea is too rough.
Sunrise and dusk is the ideal time where one could catch a glimpse of these stilt fishermen in the Southern coastal belt. Fishermen conclude their morning session by about 9 a.m., after they sell their day’s catch to the buyers who come to the location. This method of fishing generally targets small fish, like spotted herring and small mackerel. It is to pose for photographs and entertain the foreigners that these fishermen come back a second time in the evening and stay on till dusk. Some of the foreigners even climb the ritipanna to experience this activity and the fishermen are given souvenirs and money in return.
The art of stilt fishing requires a great deal of patience and endurance, according to the fishermen. Once they learn to maintain their balance on the narrow wooden pole, the rest of the process involves waiting for several hours in complete silence, to catch the fish. The slightest disturbance in the surroundings and the fish swim away. At the end of this laborious task, they feel a numbness in their feet, the fishermen lamented. The motor boats in the surroundings, divers and those who seabathe in the vicinity also could hamper the fishing activities.