In Pictures: Sri Lanka's Pole Fisherman

• In Pictures: Sri Lanka's Pole Fisherman Photo Credit: MehmetO/alamy

  Perched above the sea, Sri Lanka’s iconic fishermen now balance between heritage and show.
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  An image taken in 1995 by renowned photographer Steve McCurry made Sri Lanka‘s stilt fishermen famous all over the world. Today, men in sarongs casting their lines from stakes driven into the seabed are among the most popular motifs with tourists to the country. However, many of these anglers stopped fishing for herring, mackerel and sardines long ago. They merely pose for the cameras—for a fee. Tourism is an important industry for this island nation.