Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P.
Profession: Economist
Speeches 295 #15 of 225·#6 in party
Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 167 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
86 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
295 speeches- 9 April 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva raised a Point of Order regarding his undertaking to table the COPF verbatim record on discussions about proceeding with the Sri Lanka–Singapore Free Trade Agreement. He said the Hansard record was not yet available, but the video showed that the committee had initially not agreed to proceed and had sought a further review, before later agreeing on the President’s recommendation. He clarified that the delay in tabling the record was procedural and not due to him. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Foreign AffairsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva argued that the Government had previously resisted trade agreements such as the Singapore FTA, CEPA, ETCA and MCC while now blaming others for weak export diversification. He criticized the proposed withdrawal of SVAT, saying VAT refunds would tie up exporters’ working capital, especially for SMEs, and contended that the issue could have been better negotiated with the IMF. He warned that the 44 per cent U.S. tariff, combined with domestic tax burdens and para-tariffs, could harm factories and jobs, and called for trade liberalization, engagement with all parties, and integration with global markets. He also referenced the upcoming EU GSP+ review and urged attention to human rights and PTA reform commitments. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) EmploymentPublic FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva stated that he had invited all MPs to a symposium on poverty assistance, but no Government members attended. He emphasized that the event was conducted by recognized academics and was intended to address the non-partisan need to ensure assistance reaches the poor. He said he requested that the presentation be printed and sent to the Speaker for circulation to all MPs, noting that the Committee on Public Finance holds such discussions to support national policy work rather than for political purposes. Committee Report: Committee on Public Finance (VAT and Aswesuma) Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme. He said the Committee had no objection to extending or expanding Aswesuma payments, but raised concerns about significant exclusion and inclusion errors in beneficiary selection, citing survey findings and urging the Government to address them using updated household income data. He also stated that exporter groups had requested a delay in removing the SVAT system due to tariff-related pressures, but the Government did not accept the proposed deferral, leading him and Hon. Ravi Karunanayake to oppose the Bill while Government Members approved it. Papers Presented: Customs Resolution, Ministry Reports, Annual Reports EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that while he accepted the Minister’s position, the concern was the delayed receipt of the Gazette. He said timely access would have allowed the matter to be examined in Committee and details obtained without requiring debate in the House. Procedural: Welfare Benefits Gazette Discussion and Clarifications Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva noted that the Prime Minister had tabled proposals under the Welfare Benefits Act and said there was no objection to considering them. He requested that, in future, Members be given more time to study such papers before they are taken up in Committee, rather than being tabled in the morning and considered the same afternoon. Procedural: Welfare Benefits Gazette Discussion and Clarifications Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva briefly rose to make a clarification during the proceedings. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt. Procedural: Welfare Benefits Gazette Discussion and Clarifications Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva announced that the Committee on Public Finance had organized a seminar titled “Poverty Dynamics after the Economic Crisis” at 11.00 a.m. in Committee Room No. 05. He said it would be conducted by Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne and Dr. H.M. Gunathilaka and invited all Members to attend. Personal Explanation and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva disputed the Deputy Minister’s claims on tax relief, arguing that several measures presented as concessions—such as double taxation relief, taxation on net income, and quarterly payments—were standard tax practices. He said the Government had failed to remove food taxes as promised and was still collecting revenue through the Special Commodity Levy, while also imposing higher taxes on domestic software income and small foreign-earning digital creators. He also criticized the Deputy Minister’s attribution of Central Bank interest rate reductions to the Government and called for legal action, rather than repeated allegations, against politicians accused of corruption. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public Finance Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Agreed with the call to publish the list, expressing full support for that demand. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva urged the Minister to publish the relevant list, agreeing with the preceding point and emphasizing the need for disclosure. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva cautioned against broad, indiscriminate action, arguing that when measures are applied without precision, innocent people are also harmed. He used the metaphor of “carpet-bombing” to stress the need for targeted and proportionate decision-making. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Security & Defence Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Agreed fully with the preceding point or proposal, without adding further argument or detail. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva briefly sought the Minister’s permission to intervene or speak, without raising a substantive policy issue or making a specific proposal. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva noted that the Bill includes the relevant provision but raised concern about a tax inconsistency. He argued that applying a 15 percent rate to individuals in one context while personal income tax rates rise up to 36 percent could result in the same person being taxed differently under “corporate-like” and personal tax treatment. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Public Finance Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva argued that the Budget debate should give greater scrutiny to revenue measures and borrowings, including tabling the ISB restructuring agreement and examining bilateral debt clauses, comparability of treatment, and protections for domestic stakeholders such as the EPF. He said the Government had largely continued the previous administration’s IMF-linked debt restructuring programme despite earlier criticism of borrowing, and called for more rigorous parliamentary processes on debt, including possible constitutional reforms. He also questioned revenue policy implementation, citing cigarette excise calibration and casino taxation as areas where, in his view, weak design or enforcement was causing avoidable revenue losses. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva, speaking as Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, sought a brief clarification in Parliament. He referenced his 15 years of experience serving on such committees to contextualize his intervention. Public Finance Committee Report and Procedural Exchanges Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Harsha de Silva tabled several Committee on Public Finance reports relating to excise duties, special commodity levies, a tax treaty protocol with India, and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill. He clarified that the Committee initially withheld approval for a proposed cigarette tax change pending further analysis but later approved it due to the need to proceed with the Appropriation Bill. He argued that Sri Lanka’s cigarette taxation method is flawed compared with WHO and UNDP best practice of taxing about 75 per cent of the retail price, noting that government revenue growth has lagged industry profits and that current adjustments create brand-level discrepancies. He proposed that Parliament make a fresh decision on cigarette taxation, with the Committee on Public Finance participating constructively. Public Finance Committee Report and Procedural Exchanges Public Finance Read →
- 19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented two petitions to Parliament on behalf of H. A. Samanpriya Rodrigo of Mirihana, Kotte, and W. A. I. Vimarshee Mihirani de Silva of Colombo 07. Presentation of Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 18 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva questioned how the Government intends to achieve its stated target of USD 28 billion in industrial exports by 2030 and argued that an export-led strategy requires a clear shift from earlier positions opposing export- and FDI-led growth under the Economic Transformation Bill. He urged the Government to expand and protect market access through agreements such as RCEP and other FTAs, noting risks to Sri Lanka’s US trade surplus and the need to maintain arrangements such as GSP+. He said high para-tariffs and resistance to services liberalization, including Mode 4 professional mobility, are inconsistent with joining major trade frameworks and building exports. He also referred to domestic innovation in electric three-wheelers and implied the need for supportive policies for such industries. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) Foreign AffairsEmploymentPublic Finance Read →