Former President and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa's office issued a statement saying criticizing the Constitutional Council did not undermine the independence of the judiciary. 

Issuing a statement to the media, Rajapaksa's media spokesman Rohan Welivita said the entire state machinery had broken down as a result of the arbitrary actions of the Constitutional Council. 

The statement comes in the wake of the former President's critical remarks of the Constitutional Council at a recent press conference. The former President's remarks were synonymous with those of President Maithripala Sirisena who recently said in Parliament that the Constitutional Council was working in a "questionable" manner. 

However, Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Opposition Leader, also represents the Constitutional Council. His brother, former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa is also a member of the Council as the Opposition Leader's representative. 

The Rajapaksa brothers were present at the Constitutional Council meeting when it turned down President Sirisena nomination to appoint Deepali Wijesundara as the Chairperson of the Court of Appeal — a move that earned the ire of the President. 

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the Council decided to turn down the appointment of Wijesundara "unanimously".