🎋 Rita Stilt Pole

The Rita (රිට) is the traditional wooden stilt used by fishermen in Koggala, Maraduwawala, and the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Handcrafted from durable, salt-resistant wood, each pole is carefully selected and anchored into the seabed to withstand ocean currents and tropical weather for decades.

These stilts are not just fishing equipment — they are family heirlooms, passed down from father to son along with the knowledge of tides, currents, and fish behavior at that specific location. Some poles have been in the same family for over 100 years!

🌿 Selection of Wood

Fishermen traditionally use hardwood from native trees such as Alstonia/ඇට්ටොනියා(easy find). The wood must be naturally resistant to saltwater, termites, and heavy waves.

⚒️ Preparation and Shaping

Clean the bark from the tree and carefully shape the base and end using a knife so it can stand firmly on the seabed. One side is sharpened and strengthened to ensure stability in the sand underwater.

To create the seat, four thin but strong poles are fixed about 5 feet above the water level. Two poles are secured at a 90° angle to form the main support, while the remaining two are attached at 45° angles to provide additional balance and strength.

🚣 Installation Process

Installing the Rita requires teamwork and precise timing during low tide. Fishermen walk out to the reef, dig a hole using iron bars, and then hammer the pole several feet into the seabed to secure it firmly.

Skilled fishermen can also install the stilt alone using traditional techniques. The pole is first placed in the water, allowing it to float. A rope is tied, with one end attached to the pole and the other to the fisherman’s waist or foot. The fisherman then dives, digs the seabed, and carefully fixes the pole into position.

In earlier generations, many fishermen performed this process entirely on their own, demonstrating great strength, balance, and deep knowledge of the sea.

📏 Technical Specifications

• The locations where fishermen install their stilts are not random. These places are traditionally inherited through generations, often described as coming through the “bloodline” of fishing families. Each fisherman has a recognized area where they are allowed to plant their pole (Rita).

  From ancient times, the ownership of these fishing spots has been officially recorded. Today, the Divisional Secretariat maintains records of these locations and the fishermen who use them. In many cases, this information dates back to the early establishment of local administrative offices.

  Through this system, fishermen inherit the right to use specific spots, and it is common for each fisherman to have at least one designated place to install a stilt. This reflects both tradition and respect for long-established fishing practices.

The stilt pole is more than a fishing tool — it is a symbol of resilience, patience, and harmony with nature. For centuries, the Rita has represented the ingenuity of Sri Lankan coastal communities who found a way to fish without boats.

Today, these stilts have become an icon of Sri Lankan tourism, recognized worldwide as a unique cultural heritage.