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Pandemonium reigned in Parliament, when the UNP's maverick member T. Maheshwaran, went berserk, seizing the glass and saucer in front of Chief Opposition Whip. Mahinda Samarasinghe and flinging them towards the Mace and the Speaker. Fortunately, the missiles hit the wooden stand where the Mace, the symbol of authority of the Speaker was placed.

Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunewardena was presiding at the time of the 'missile' throwing incident.

However, Maheshwaran's throw hit only the stand where the Mace was placed and the glass and the saucer broke into pieces after hitting it. The broken pieces were shattered in the well of the House and the Deputy Speaker was compelled to suspend the sittings for ten minutes at 5.30 pm as Maheshwaran did not heed the orders of the Deputy Speaker.

The incident took place while the committee stage budget debate on the Vote of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was in progress in the House and after Kalutara District UNP MP made a speech over the judgement given by the Supreme Court against UNP MP and former Minister S.B. Dissanayake.

UNP MP Maheshwaran came to the well of the House after the Deputy Speaker gave a ruling that the sections of the speech made by UNP Kalutara District MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne over the judgement given by the Supreme Court against S.B. Dissanayake which were not compatible with the Standing Orders of the House will be expunged from the hanzard.

The Deputy Speaker was compelled to suspend the sittings of the House as Maheshwaran disregarded the Deputy Speaker's orders to go out of the Chamber.

Maheshwaran continued to accuse the Government and the President within the chamber.

The Chief Government Whip and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle after the sittings of the House resumed drew the Speakers attention towards this incident and said as they have seen, Maheshwaran had thrown the saucer and the glass towards the Deputy Speaker and added it was the first such instance that the Chair was targeted by an MP.

Minister Fernandopulle requested the Speaker to take this matter at the privilege committee.

However, Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe said as they have seen, Maheshwaran had thrown the saucer and the glass towards the Mace.

Ultimately, the sittings of the House were adjourned till 9.30 am on Wednesday following a motion by Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle as the time allocated for the vote of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources had lapsed at 6 pm and the UNP MPs calling for a vote to extend the time for the vote.

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