Sri Lanka’s New Fishing Craze: Catch ‘Em, Cook ‘Em, Kill ‘Em

Forget politics for a minute—this week’s hottest gossip from Kurunegala isn’t about MPs, but about fish. Yes, fish. The Fisheries Ministry has decided the best way to deal with nasty invaders like the giant snakehead and wannabe Hollywood villains like piranhas is simple: turn them into dinner.

So, more than a thousand hopeful anglers showed up at Deduru Oya reservoir for what looked less like a conservation programme and more like a village carnival. The order from the top: no tilapia, no carp—just snakeheads, knife fish, alligator gar, and other toothy monsters that have been bullying Sri Lanka’s lakes.

“Careful, these brutes bite harder than some backbench MPs,” joked one old-timer as the competition got underway. In the end, only 22 snakeheads showed up on the scales. Apparently, even invasive predators know when to dodge a government programme.

Still, Fisheries Secretary Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa declared victory. He even suggested the campaign could one day hook tourists: “Come to Sri Lanka, fight a snakehead, and take it home for curry.” Not quite the slogan the Tourism Board had in mind, but it got a laugh.

Top prize went to 37-year-old N.A.V. Sandaruwan, who reeled in a chunky pair and walked away with 20,000 rupees and a shiny rod and reel. He swore he nearly had another “monster,” but it slipped away. Maybe it heard about the cooking pot.

Even two Indians, Dinesh Kumar and Raj Thilak, crossed over to try their luck. They went home empty-handed, shrugging that “some days you win, some days you don’t.” Clearly, the fish didn’t get the memo about regional cooperation.

Locals aren’t used to eating snakehead, but with the government insisting they fry, grill, or curry the beasts, we might just see “snakehead biriyani” on the menu next Avurudu. Until then, the fish war goes on—and this time, it’s personal.