The LSSP has never had a formal leader. In the period immediately after its formation, Dr Colvin R de Silva was elected President, but the post was done away with later. For many years, NM Perera was the leader of the LSSP Parliamentary Group and was recognised by the public as the party leader. However, the actual leadership has always been that of a group represented in the various bureau of the Central Committee.

• Dr S.A. Wickremasinghe

• Philip Gunawardena

• Dr N.M. Perera

• Dr Colvin R de Silva

• Leslie Goonewardena

• Robert Gunewardena

• Edmund Samarakkody

• V. Karalasingham (Carlo)

• Vivienne Goonewardena

• S.C.C. Anthonipillai (Toni)

• Selina Perera

• Mark Anthony Bracegirdle

• Regi Siriwardena

• P. H. William de Silva

• Bernard Soysa

• I.J. Wickrema

• Hector Abhayavardhana

• Doric De Souza

• G.P. Perera ('Elephant Perera')

• D.G. William ('Galle Face William')

• Cholomondely Goonewardena

• Wilfred Senanayake

• Anil Moonesinghe

• Seneka Bibile

• Osmund Jayaratne

• G.E.H. Perera

• Batty Weerakoon

• Tissa Vitarana

• Carlo Fonseka