Book has been published by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) with the collaboration of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) by filling the gap of a proper field guide to the freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka.

The field guide comprises of five sections; part I is an exclusive introductory part that gives geographical information of the Island, the different types of freshwater bodies, basic on fish taxonomy, classification and the fish checklist arranged in systematic order. The part II is the dichotomous key for the fishes in freshwater of Sri Lanka. The part III is a series of descriptive articles on true freshwater fish species whereas part IV gives descriptive articles on the salt water dispersants that usually enter into the freshwaters of Sri Lanka. Part V is an exclusively quick reference on the regulated freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka.

Ms. R.R.A.Ramani Shirantha, a senior scientist in the NARA has done the citation with assistance of many other experts in the field. Ms.Ramani Shirantha has rendered her services as a fish expert for the South Asian region and nationality for different government and non-governmental organizations. She has been a contributor to several national and international books, being the sole author for certain chapters on fish fauna of Sri Lanka.

Each and every fish is illustrated with the known distribution, geographical status, conservation status, legal status, habitats, major threats, synonyms, other common English names, other local names and remarks.