Mr. Gunaratnam, who was a member of the JVP’S Politburo, defected from the party last September, along with ten other Central Committee members due to ideological differences. The defectors had ceased to be members of the party and were not given posts in the Central Committee at the convention held on November 13, 2011. On December 13, 2011, they established a movement that called itself ‘ Movement for People’s Struggle.’

These dissidents had decided to form a new political party and that would become a reality on April 9 at a convention to be held at Sugathadasa Stadium. Although there was much speculation about what the new party would be called, the name ‘Nawa Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’ was considered to be the most appropriate by majority of the dissidents. Members would have to decide whether to appoint Mr. Gunaratnam as their leader or not, a decision which was to be made on the day of the convention on April 9. A self evaluation of what the party stands for would be done on that day followed by a book launch. “Such a self evaluation had not taken place after 1978, almost 35 years, and the time is ripe for it,” a source in the proposed new party said.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka