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- 12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order on the Committee on Public Finance report regarding CIABOC’s budget estimate, stating that the Committee had agreed to recommend amendments to the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, to exclude CIABOC and the National Audit Office from its scope in order to protect their budgetary independence. He argued that this would prevent future governments from influencing those institutions through the Ministry of Finance. He also noted that the CIABOC Chair’s salary, previously linked to the President of the Court of Appeal, had not been adjusted after the latter’s salary increase, and said the Committee recommends aligning it with the revised Court of Appeal President’s salary from 2025/2026 onward. Point of Order: CIABOC Report (Hon. Harsha de Silva) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva supported the investment protection agreement with the United Arab Emirates, noting it was Sri Lanka’s 29th such agreement and expressing hope it would increase UAE investment. He then urged the Government to take a stronger and more principled position on the Gaza crisis, citing Sri Lanka’s historic recognition of Palestine, its non-aligned foreign policy tradition, and the humanitarian impact of the conflict. He argued that Sri Lanka should actively defend Palestinian statehood and the two-State solution in regional, international, bilateral and multilateral forums. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Justice & Human RightsForeign Affairs Read →
- 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report covering approval of the Sri Lanka–United Arab Emirates investment promotion and protection agreement, supplementary funding for the Kandy North Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, and reallocations for subsidized New Year food items and nutritional packs for pregnant mothers. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers Tabled and Committee Reports InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 7 August 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva criticised the President’s economic and infrastructure agenda, arguing that the Government’s claims of changing IMF conditions were inaccurate and that it had inherited an improving economy rather than a collapsed one. He said IMF fiscal limits and the need for structural reforms constrained further borrowing, questioned slow capital expenditure implementation, and objected to Electricity Act amendments requiring full State ownership of CEB assets, arguing this would hinder private equity investment in transmission. He also sought clarification on the Sahasdanavi power purchase agreement pricing and raised concerns over procurement choices in the India-linked UDI/e-NIC project, urging consistent scrutiny of corruption and policy costs. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Public FinanceInfrastructureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 7 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva addressed the President directly, stating that while the Opposition respects him and is willing to work for the country, it had already clearly set out what it believes needs to be done. He noted that political exchanges may include minor remarks from both sides and referred to discussions in the Lobby about challenging the Government. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 August 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva briefly stated that he had been drawn into the matter under discussion, without elaborating further on the issue or making a substantive policy argument. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva opposed the proposed amendments to the electricity law, arguing that they reverse the investment and competition framework established by the 2024 Act, which he said was intended to reduce tariffs, improve efficiency, and support private participation where appropriate. He stated that multilateral agencies including ADB, IFC and JICA, as well as business and sector stakeholders, had warned the Government against the changes, and he tabled related correspondence. He questioned the feasibility of financing major transmission investments through public borrowing, citing concerns over CEB debt risk and borrowing costs, and argued that higher costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers and industry. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading InfrastructurePublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
- 5 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on several referred items, including the Exchange (Amendment) Bill, regulations under the Tea (Tax and Control of Export) Act, an order imposing Tobacco Tax on beedi, regulations under the Public Debt Management Act, and an order under the Foreign Exchange Act. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Report: Public Finance Committee Report Public Finance Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva argued that education reform should update curricula to equip children with skills needed for a competitive global economy, including adaptability, technology proficiency, problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, creativity and emotional intelligence. He emphasized the importance of English-medium capacity as a bridge to global opportunities and to reduce disparities between rural and elite urban schools, while stating that Sinhala and Tamil should not be neglected. He supported advancing the proposed education reforms but called for broader dialogue and inclusion, and added that technology and AI learning should be balanced with appreciation of arts and music. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Education Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva expressed support for the Government’s proposed education reforms, noting that many elements build on earlier reform efforts, including proposals from 1981 and subsequent initiatives. He urged broad consultation across the five pillars of reform, careful preparation, and safeguards to avoid past failures caused by rushed implementation or politicization. He also emphasized the need to design the education framework for future labour-market demands, including changes driven by artificial intelligence. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva asked for his allocated ten minutes to be respected and sought permission from the Deputy Chairperson of Committees to proceed. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on Orders under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018. He urged that a National Tariff Policy be developed as part of a broader National Trade Policy, noting current international trade discussions, and also highlighted the need to proceed with legislation to establish an International Trade Office. He further informed Parliament that the Committee had trialled AI technology to generate minutes, summaries and reports, and requested consideration of its wider use across parliamentary committees. Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva questioned the Government’s claim that e-commerce clearance issues had been resolved, asking whether parcels were now being assessed by HS-code duties or another method. He called for a fit-for-purpose low-value B2C import regime, including pre-declaration, clearer de minimis or flat-tax rules, practical TIN requirements, platform-based collection options, and improved Customs/ASYHUB capacity. He also urged a practical transition for vehicles imported under third-country letters of credit, arguing that shipments already arrived or afloat should not be suddenly re-exported after years of inconsistent enforcement, and that rules on used vehicles and hub imports should be clarified prospectively. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) EmploymentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva tabled the Report of the Committee on Public Finance on regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2437/04 of 19 May 2025. The report, concerning regulations referred to the Committee, was ordered to lie upon the Table. Announcements and Papers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva addressed concerns about electricity sector reforms, including the proposed unbundling of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the role of a national transmission company and distribution companies. He cited the Supreme Court’s determination that such reforms are policy matters for Government and Parliament, not questions of constitutionality, and noted that concerns from the World Bank, ADB and JICA had been sent to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee. He argued that attracting domestic and foreign private investment is necessary if public capital investment is limited, and questioned whether the proposed amendments would restrict investment and thereby constrain growth beyond a projected 3 per cent. Debate: Motion to Adjourn on Fiscal Strategy Statement 2026 InfrastructurePublic FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva addressed the adjournment debate on the Fiscal Strategy Statement 2026, questioning whether the Government’s medium-term fiscal framework can deliver development when it projects growth falling from 5% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025 and averaging about 3.1% through 2030. He argued that the cap on primary expenditure at 13% of GDP and slow capital expenditure implementation, despite a stated Rs. 1,400 billion allocation, would limit growth unless accompanied by significant domestic and foreign investment and economic reforms. He also contrasted earlier NPP-linked arguments on the IMF and “odious debt” with the Government’s present fiscal policy commitments, and called attention to unclear or inconsistent claims about investment inflows. Debate: Motion to Adjourn on Fiscal Strategy Statement 2026 Public Finance Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, speaking as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, raised a point of order regarding the presentation of a law previously opposed by the Chair. He suggested that the document be reformatted to address eight specific points in a clear structure, noting that relevant material was included but scattered, so that the first presentation under the Act would be easier to understand. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva objected to off-topic remarks under Standing Order 91(e) and criticised the Government for opposing key economic reform laws during the crisis, including measures on Central Bank independence, public finance, public debt and economic transformation, while now relying on those frameworks. He supported digitising tax payments but questioned a tender for 15 million polycarbonate ID cards, proposing cheaper temporary cards and legal changes if a physical card is needed alongside a Unique ID system. He argued that stabilization is insufficient without investment-led growth, called for verification of claimed FDI inflows, and raised concern over factory closures and the unresolved U.S. tariff issue before the expiry of the 90-day window. He urged the Government to prioritise jobs, incomes, investment and poverty reduction, citing Department of Census and Statistics figures that a four-member family in Colombo needs Rs. 70,328 per month to survive. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations EmploymentForeign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
- 19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva supported expediting legal amendments to allow COPE matters to be referred to the Attorney General, and said similar powers should be extended to COPA and the Public Finance Committee. Citing the 2024 e-Visa issue and the dairy cattle importation programme, he argued that parliamentary committee findings should lead to legal accountability but cautioned against targeting only officials. He tabled documents relating to the dairy cattle programme and questioned why only the Secretary was being blamed despite involvement by multiple officials, Ministers, and Secretaries, calling instead for a full forensic audit to identify all responsible parties. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 19 June 2025 AI summary Accepted a petition from Mr. Dhammika Parana Yapa of No. 2, Lake Drive, Colombo 08, for presentation to Parliament. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →