Age and growth parameters of Stolepho­ rus heterolobus caught by gill net and beach seine fisheries on the west coast of Sri Lanka are described. Ageing was based on primary growth rings in the otoliths. A total of 86 otoliths were extracted from fish having a length range of 2.1 - 8.5 cm. Otoliths were prepared for age reading after a little grinding. Rings were counted from the center of the otolith towards the outer edge. Verification counts on some otoliths were made by a second reader. The otolith microstructure was also used to trace the early life history of S_;_ heterolobus. There was a linear relation between fish length and otolith size. Growth esti­ mates were made by using direct size-at-age data and back-calculated data. Growth parameters estimated by these two methods are K = 4.02, L00= 8.62 and K = 3.91, L«,= 8.74, respectively. This species is relatively fast growing, having a life span of about 9 months.