A JVP member of the Southern Provincial Council protesting against several members of the Council going abroad at public expense carried the Mace away from the council chamber yesterday (12) disrupting the council meeting.

Deputy Chairman of the Council Wijaya Dahanayake presided.

The ruling UPFA was represented by 4 members while a single member of the UNP in the opposition was also present at the meeting. All 14 JVP group of council members were present.. Since a number of council members in the administration were out on foreign trips most of the seats were vacant and the JVP group leader S.Kumara raised a question of privilege about the number of UPFA and UNP members going abroad.

At this stage JVP member T. K. Jayasundara took the Mace out of the stand and followed by the other JVP members walked out disrupting the meeting. A tussle among the JVP members and the UPFA and UNP members to get hold of the mace ensued.