Pivithutu Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammapila said there were several shortcomings in the Port City bill which has been presented to Parliament, although they conceptually agreed with the mechanism.

He added that the party agrees to appoint foreigners as members of the commission, but that the majority must be Sri Lankans.

He also added that any clause in the bill contravening the Constitution must be rectified. "This will be done by the Supreme Court or at the committee stage," Gammanpila said addressing a press conference yesterday.

The government, however, has stated that some amendments will be introduced to the Port City bill at the committee stage.