The Catla is a large freshwater carp introduced to Sri Lanka for aquaculture and inland fisheries. Native to the river systems of the Indian subcontinent, it is now widely found in reservoirs, irrigation tanks, lakes, and slow-moving rivers across the island. It prefers large, open freshwater bodies with warm, well-oxygenated water. The Catla is primarily a surface and mid-water feeder, consuming zooplankton, phytoplankton, and other suspended organic matter. It is a fast-growing species that usually swims in schools, particularly during its juvenile stages, and can attain a considerable size under favourable conditions. In Sri Lanka, the Catla is extensively cultured because of its rapid growth, high market value, and importance as a food fish. As an introduced species, it contributes significantly to inland fisheries but may also compete with native fish species for food and habitat resources in some freshwater ecosystems.