The sky blue Water Lily, scientifically
known as Nymphaea Nouchali, which is endemic to the country, has been named as
the correct national flower of Sri Lanka. The decision was taken 3rd
April 2012 by a committee of experts
appointed, by Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, to identify the
genuine national flower.
The Ministry said that the plans are afoot
to publish details along with the flower in all school textbooks following a
recommendation by the committee. The committee was appointed when an incorrect
picture of the national flower was circulated among schools.
The controversy erupted when both, the Nil
Manel, which is the declared National Flower and an imposter hybrid cousin,
were mentioned in the recently launched book ‘Flowering Plants commonly
encountered in Sri Lankan habitats’ by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala, Dr. Siril
Wijesundara and Dr. Janaki Galappatti.
The controversy cropped up in November,
2010 when Professor Deepthi Yakandawala, Professor in Botany of the Peradeniya
University, revealed research establishing that although Nil Manel or Blue
Water Lily is the national flower, the picture depicted it erroneously was that
of Nymphaea capensis, Nymphaea caerulea or even a hybrid with Nymphaea
micrantha.
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