The position fell vacant after Basil Rajapaksa left the country in haste following the toppling of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 8 election.

Minister Senaratne played a key role in the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena who was keen on having him as the secretary of the SLFP.

But any move to make Senaratne the SLFP secretary was shelved owing to differences of opinion among the hierarchy of the Party.

Meanwhile President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to remove former Minister Dallas Alahapperuma from the post of treasurer of the SLFP.