As you travel along the Southern Sri Lankan coast you will see a unique sight- men sitting or balancing on sticks or poles out past the breakers and fishing. They are the famed stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka and can be seen around Galle, Talpe, Weligama, Unawatuna, Ahangama, Koggala, Kathaluwa and other places along the Southern coastline. This is a traditional form of fishing that has been practiced for many decades. Ritipanna is the Sinhala word for stilt fishing.
A narrow pole is tied like a cross bar to another pole which is firmly stuck into or is embedded in the sea bed. The sticks are placed in the form of rough crosses. Kithul rods are used by the stilt fishermen they have a plastic bag tied to the pole or around their waists to put the fish in. They usually catch small fish such as the tiny mackerel.