Fingerlin|frearing in net cages in perennial reservoirs of Sri Lanka is a recent development introduced I?!' the government. It includes the involvement of reservoir fishing communities. Rice formulated fish feed were used as feed in the culture practices. The potential of ; ^ as^ n g #^aTfcyprinids, abundant in reservoirs of Sri Lanka, was also evaluated in this strategy. Twenty-four net cages (2 x 4 x 2.5. (20 m3) were installed in three Sri Lankan reservoirs, Chandrikawewa, Kiriibbanwewa and Muthukandiyawewa, and were stocked with fry of one of five cypripid species, i.e. Cyprinus carpio, Catla catla, Labeo rohita, L. dussumieri, Hypophthal- michthys molitrix and one cichlid species, Oreochromis niloticus. The trials were conducted to rear fry up to advanced fry (rearing period 21-45 days) and fry to fingerling (rearing period: 70-80 days). Members of fisheries cooperative societies were trained to operate this aquaculture system. Three feed types were used. Rice bran (RB), a commercial fish feed (Cf) and farmer-made aqua- feed. (Mf) were compared with a treatment in which feed was not presented. The main ingredients used for preparing Mf were locally available RB, fishmeal (prepared from cyprinids in reservoirs) and cooked cassava tubers. Of the six species cultured, the lowest percentage survival occurred in C. catla in Chandri­ kawewa (<[%). In Muthukandiyawewa, where fishing communities are better experienced in cage-, culture, high survival was observed for L. rohita (37.1-55.1%), and C. carpio (36.6-78.5%). The indigenous cyprinid L. dussumieri performed well in two reservoirs when survival as high as 95.1% in Kiriibbanwewa was recorded. Based on survival, L. dussumieri, L. rohita, C. carpio and O. niloticus can therefore be considered as better candidates for cage aquaculture for fry to finger- ling rearing than C. catla and H. molitrix. Percentage average daily growth (%ADG) was always lower in cages with high survival than in cages with low survival, perhaps due to the competition for food. RB and Cf gave better survival rates in most trials. Proximate composition of Mf (dry matter, 51-71%; moisture, 28—48%; ash, 5-12%; protein, 17-33% and fat 2-12%) which is com­ parable to Cf, can be used to reduce the cost of feeding.