Do I have to pay Sri Lankan stilt fishermen for photos?

Yes, in modern times you generally have to pay the stilt fishermen along the southern coast near Koggala and Ahangama a negotiated tip if you want to take their photograph, though not always.

The traditional stilt fishing has largely faded away as a working livelihood for families. Today, the men up on the stilts are mainly doing a kind of performance for visitors. It’s customary to agree on a modest fee, usually around 500 to 1000 LKR, before you start snapping photos. If you take pictures from a little distance without paying, sometimes you get very direct, maybe even forceful, requests for money.