This publication sets out to evaluate the potential and prospects for utilizing Sri Lanka's indigenous animal genetic resources by describing them in the context of their physical, socio-economic, legal and policy contexts. The first chapter provides an introduction to the country's animal genetic resources, providing an overview of their origins and distribution, production systems, population trends and risks. This is followed by a description of the country's agro-ecology, focusing on climate, natural resources and land use. The next chapter reviews the potential for marketing products from indigenous animals as a basis for sustainable use, considering both marketing structures an consumer demand for various types of product. Chapter 5 describes national policy and legal frameworks affecting the management of animal genetic resources and provides a list of recommendations on how these frameworks could be improved. Chapter 6 describes the state of capacity to manage Sri Lanka's animal genetic resources and indicates where capacity-building efforts are required.