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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Colombo

Profession: Economist

Roster profile ↗
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
  • 7 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva addressed regulations waiving VAT, Cess, PAL and Customs Duty on donated imports for cyclone recovery, but argued that relief should also cover privately imported replacement machinery and inputs for affected businesses, subject to verification mechanisms. He called for clarity on a proposed donors’ conference, said the announced “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund does not formally exist, and urged establishment of the Disaster Fund under the Disaster Management Act with audited oversight. He highlighted severe MSME losses and debt pressures following the cyclone, and argued that recovery should not depend mainly on donations but should include spending prioritization and greater private investment in infrastructure through PPPs and concessions. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill InfrastructureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
  • 7 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Report of the Committee on Public Finance on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill and regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2465/07 of December 01, 2025. The report, concerning matters referred to the Committee, was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers Presented Public Finance Read →
  • 6 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that the Committee on Public Finance has a constitutional role in approving the budgets and work programmes of the National Audit Office and CIABOC, and said he had written to the President regarding the need to appoint an Auditor-General. He argued that the President and Constitutional Council must act in accordance with the Constitution by submitting and recommending a suitably qualified candidate on merit. He also questioned the Speaker’s refusal to circulate his letter to Members or the Constitutional Council, saying he did not know the legal basis for that decision and would table both letters. Procedural: Points of Order on Auditor-General Appointment and Parliamentary Matters Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
  • 19 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva argued that post-disaster rebuilding should not merely restore damaged infrastructure but add net capacity, while prioritizing spending given poverty levels and future financing pressures. He said the Government is in fact taking Rs. 374 billion in debt, urged greater use of PPPs and private participation in areas such as SriLankan Airlines and electricity infrastructure, and cautioned against relying solely on public borrowing. Referring to affected communities in Hanguranketha and surrounding areas, he called for the National Involuntary Resettlement Policy to be enacted in law to prevent forced returns and protect livelihoods. He also urged Parliament to formally establish the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund, citing limited market appetite for dollar bonds, potentially costly IMF borrowing, and pressure on the rupee. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order objecting to the previous speaker’s reference to another Member’s personal affairs, including a court case number. Citing Standing Order No. 91(h), he argued that such references were improper, did not imply guilt, and should be expunged from the record to maintain parliamentary decorum. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on an order under Section 71 of the Value Added Tax Act concerning management of the Refund Fund and on Supplementary Estimate No. 06 of 2025 for the Ministry of Finance. He noted that the Committee and its officers had obtained parliamentary approval to allocate Rs. 72.5 billion for relief to people affected by a disaster, and thanked those involved. Papers - Annual Reports and Committee Reports Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on Supplementary Estimate No. 05 of 2025 for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and on regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers - Annual Reports and Committee Reports Public Finance Read →
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report covering deviations of headline inflation from the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement targets in late 2024 and the first half of 2025, and the Central Bank’s submission on its functions under Section 80(2)(a) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers - Annual Reports and Committee Reports Public Finance Read →
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on the 2026 Appropriation Bill under Standing Order 121(5)(11), addressing whether the Appropriation aligns with Government policy. He noted that the report was prepared through the Institute of Policy Studies, thanked the institute, and stated that Sinhala and Tamil versions would be submitted later. Papers - Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva urged the Government to use available Treasury savings and unexpected revenue to provide immediate disaster relief, arguing that at least Rs. 50,000 should be paid to affected households and that legal provisions allow higher reconstruction spending in 2026 despite IMF-linked expenditure limits. He proposed mobilizing Rs. 300–500 billion for reconstruction, suspending parate executions, and creating a dedicated MSME support fund, while suggesting that Treasury bill rollovers be used to free liquidity for relief. He also questioned the legal basis of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund, insisting that any such mechanism must be authorized by Parliament, auditable, and compliant with Article 148 and the Public Financial Management Act. He further called for a Budget amendment to reflect changed circumstances and asked the Government to clarify its policy on SOE reforms, citing CEB reforms and SriLankan Airlines losses. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Public FinanceInfrastructureJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva clarified that the vehicles in question are intended for working consultants, not for Members, and requested that the Leader of the House address their transport needs. He emphasized that Members neither require nor receive such vehicles. Petitions: Presentation of Public Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva sought 30 seconds to speak, emphasizing that he was not attempting to obstruct proceedings. He clarified that the intervention was not intended as part of a debate. Petitions: Presentation of Public Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva briefly requested 30 seconds of speaking time from the Chair. Petitions: Presentation of Public Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva referred to vehicles imported under irrevocable letters of credit and said Sri Lanka Customs had been urged not to require re-export but to allow release on payment of an additional duty. He noted that while a decision had been taken to levy additional duty and release the vehicles, registration issues remained due to an Imports and Exports Control Department rule, even where bank guarantees were provided. He requested that vehicles be released either on cash payment or on a bank guarantee with an added interest component, noting that 17 had been released and about 870 remained. Papers: Regulations and Reports Presented InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report covering Budget 2026 documents, fiscal and debt reports, regulations, resolutions, supplementary estimates, and related legislation referred to the Committee. He noted that the Committee was meeting for the 50th time, including on public holidays, and requested parliamentary support for its workload, including adequate staffing for the Parliamentary Budget Office. He raised concerns about delays in resolving the NMRA registration waiver matter and urged replacement of members who repeatedly do not attend meetings, while also noting reports tabled on issues including about 900 third-country vehicles held up. Papers: Regulations and Reports Presented Public Finance Read →
  • 28 November 2025 AI summary As Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that existing disaster-related allocations include Rs. 8.508 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 1.58 billion for capital expenditure, with a further Rs. 15 billion available to be spent in the coming weeks without fresh parliamentary approval. He emphasized the need to make provision in the 2026 Budget, calling for at least Rs. 15 billion to be immediately allocated under 2026 heads, particularly for capital works to repair canals and waterways. Motions at Commencement of Public Business - Emergency Response Coordination Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 28 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva tabled the Committee on Public Finance report on regulations under the Public Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024, and related constitutional provisions. He explained that the Act transfers borrowing functions from the Central Bank and the External Resources Department to the Public Debt Management Office, which is preparing to issue a US dollar-denominated bond of USD 50 million, with the relevant regulations being approved. Public Finance Committee Report on Regulations Public Finance Read →
  • 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva expressed condolences over flood-related deaths and urged prompt relief for displaced people. He questioned the procurement of 15 million pre-printed polycarbonate National Identity Cards, arguing that digitization through a Super App or DigiLocker could reduce the need for costly cards and that cheaper PVC cards could be used during transition; he tabled tender documents and asked the Government to clarify whether the quantity had in fact been reduced. He also urged the Government to allow small and medium rice millers, not only large-capacity mills, to mill part of the Paddy Marketing Board’s 49,500 MT paddy stock, citing rice price concerns and the need to support competition. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Read →
  • 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva sought the Speaker’s permission to raise an earlier question under the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act, specifically Schedule (a), Item 4. The intervention was procedural, invoking parliamentary privilege provisions to pursue the question. Standing Order 27(2) Question and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order under Standing Order No. 28, citing the provision on motions arising from the business of the day. He questioned the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy’s previous statement that a tender for 15 million polycarbonate cards would be changed to 5 million, arguing that such a change was not permissible and referring to the tender document issued that morning. Standing Order 27(2) Question and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →