The JVP was founded in 1965 with the aim of providing a leading force to the socialist revolution of Sri Lanka. By 1965 there were four other political parties which described themselves as leftist and socialist: the Lanka sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the first leftist party in Sri Lanka and established in 1935, the Communist Party (CP) which was a break away from the LSSP, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the CP-Chinese faction. There were also a number of other leftist groups. Here, perhaps one could pose the question as to the necessity of yet another leftist party when already four leftist parties existed. This was a period during which the economic crisis in the country was deepening. Since independence from colonialism the two capitalist parties had governed the country, each for eight years but were unable to implement even a single measure to resolve the crises Sri Lanka faced.

The people were demanding a leftist government. In fact the people were all prepared to rise up to send the capitalist government home. While the political conditions remained thus, the so-called leftist leaders accepted the invitation of the capitalist class and joined the capitalist government on 22nd July 1964, in a callous betrayal of the aspirations of the people. Any political party is liable to err due to insufficient political understanding or due to wrong political estimation. But was this act an error? Not at all. This was a planned and conscious betrayal of the working class to the capitalist class. A willful subjugation of the working class to the capitalist class. We believe that a person who commits a mistake should be and could be made aware of his mistakes and brought back to the correct path. However, a person who willfully engages in betrayal does not leave room for correction. He or she does not leave room for trust. From this situation arose the need for a new political party to lead the working class who were deserted by the so-called leftist leaders, thus the birth of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

The nuisance of a political party is invariably linked with the prevailing political situation. Therefore, a clear comprehension of the political situation, which led to the creation of the JVP, is a prerequisite to any attempt to understand the nature and role of the JVP.