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Heritage craft

Kitul Piththa (කිතුල් පිත්ත): The Fishing Rod

Stilt fishermen do not buy their rods. They make them from the kitul palm, using knowledge passed down through generations. Each rod is made to last many seasons.

Kitul Piththa fishing rod made from the kitul palm

A Kitul Piththa rod, made by hand from the kitul palm.

How the rod is made

  1. Choosing the right tree. It starts with the kitul tree (කිතුල් ගස). Fishermen tell female and male trees apart by their shape and the way the leaves grow. The female tree, with its leaves growing close together, gives the strongest piththa. The male tree gives Val Piththa (වැල් පිත්ත), which is less preferred. Knowing which tree to choose is knowledge only experienced fishermen have.
  2. Harvesting the piththa. Only a few sections are cut, so the tree is not harmed. The leaves are trimmed off and the piththa is taken home. Kitul trees were once common, but today they are rarer, which makes the material even more precious.
  3. Drying in the sun. The piththa is laid on the roof of the house and left to dry naturally. Drying makes it strong and ready for shaping before the fishing season.
  4. Straightening over fire. If the piththa is bent, it is rubbed with coconut oil and warmed over a large fire until it can be straightened by hand. The fishermen wrap their hands in cloth against the heat and shape it slowly until it is straight and well balanced.
  5. Fitting the line and hook. The rod is cleaned and fitted with a Thanguwa (තංගුව), a connector that links the handmade Bilikatuwa hook to the piththa. The knot is tied in a special way known only to skilled fishermen. By tradition, only the man who tied it can untie it. Before nylon line was available, fishermen tied it using thread taken from thick cloth.
  6. Ready for many seasons. A finished rod is not thrown away after one season. It is stored safely after every trip and lasts for years. Out of season, fishermen use the same rod in the lake or the sea with different hooks.

A living tradition

Making a Kitul Piththa is more than a practical job. It carries the knowledge, care for nature and identity of the fishing community, from choosing the tree to tying the final knot.

See the tools in a fisherman’s hands

Visit our fishing family in Koggala. We show you the Rita, the Piththa and the Bilikatuwa up close, explain how each is made, and, when the sea allows, let you sit on a stilt yourself.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Kitul Piththa?

It is the traditional fishing rod of Sri Lanka's stilt fishermen, made by hand from a section of the kitul (fishtail) palm.

Why is the rod heated over a fire?

Warming the piththa with coconut oil makes it flexible, so a bent piece can be straightened by hand into a balanced rod.

How long does a Kitul Piththa last?

Many seasons. It is stored carefully after every trip, and fishermen also use it in the lake or sea out of season.

What is the Thanguwa?

A traditional connector that links the handmade Bilikatuwa hook to the rod, tied with a special knot known only to skilled fishermen.

The three handmade tools of stilt fishing

New to stilt fishing? Start with our visitor guide and is stilt fishing real or fake?