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 May 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva responded to a matter raised under the relevant Standing Order concerning an audit report on the Polonnaruwa society. He challenged Members to identify any reference to his name in that report and stated that he was making the assertion responsibly. Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva raised a point of order under Standing Order 91(c), objecting to an allegation that someone had acted improperly using his name. He requested that the Members who made the statement provide the relevant information before the next sitting day and that the matter be referred through the Speaker to the Committee on Public Finance, after which he said he would take further steps. Procedural Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva rose to raise a point of order. No substantive issue or argument was stated in the provided excerpt. Procedural Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raises a point of order, seeking clarification from the Chair on what the point of order is. No substantive policy argument, proposal, or question beyond that procedural clarification is made in the provided excerpt. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary No speech content was provided beyond the speaker’s name and date, so the substantive points, proposals, questions, or context cannot be summarized. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary As Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva said he would summon the relevant persons and investigate claims that his name had been used in a matter without his involvement. He clarified that the Board of Directors changed after 2019 and was not the Board appointed by them, and stated that if anyone had misused his name, he would seek maximum punishment. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Under Standing Order 91, Dr. Harsha de Silva denied an allegation that he had taken rice from “Shakthi” and demanded proof. He stated that he had never taken even a kilo of rice from it and said he would resign if the allegation were proven. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva asked for the specific source or location of a statement, requesting that it be shown where the matter is stated. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva asked the Minister to state exactly what he had said. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva briefly responded to an allegation made in the House that he had dues and that a rice millers’ co-operative had caused losses to the Government. He appeared to contest or seek clarification on the claim. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Public Finance Read →
- 9 May 2025 AI summary Supported the motion but argued that policy should prioritize strengthening domestic agriculture and distribution rather than relying on imports of essential foods. Citing the “Shakthi Sahal” programme and the Paddy Marketing Board’s limitations, he proposed State-backed buffer stocks and support for both large and small millers, including cooperative and private-sector participation. He also referred to the Dambulla “Prabashwara” cold storage project and called for farmer training in Good Agricultural Practices so produce can be stored properly to reduce price volatility. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva challenged the Government’s economic projections, arguing that forecast growth of 3.5 per cent in 2025 and 3.1 per cent in 2026 contradicted promises to raise growth and reduce poverty, and questioned the claimed shift to a new economic model. He asked the Government to clarify whether electricity tariffs would rise in June, citing IMF-related commitments on quarterly tariff adjustments and urging that any excess CEB profits from lower actual costs be returned to consumers through tariff reductions. He also criticised assumptions used for the proposed Sahasdanavi combined-cycle plant and the related reduction of solar tariffs, questioning cost estimates based on exchange rates and fuel prices, and argued that the Government was overly constrained by IMF requirements. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Cost of LivingInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary The member noted that lunch was scheduled in ten minutes and asked whether he should conclude his remarks within eight minutes. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a procedural concern about being allocated only six minutes for his first speech from the Opposition. He appealed for fairness in the allocation of speaking time. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva seconded the motion for the Bill to be introduced. The House agreed to the question, the Bill was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and referred under Standing Order No. 52(6) to the Minister of Health and Mass Media. Procedural - Committee Matter and Staff Notice; Bills Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented regarding a Resolution on Customs Import Duty under the Customs Ordinance, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2421/05 on 27 January 2025 and presented to Parliament on 9 April 2025. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Public Finance Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that he had been advised he could raise a point of Order regarding a report and that the Director (Legislative Services) had been informed. He told the Chair that if the House did not want the report, it could be taken back. Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that he had informed the Director (Legislative Services) regarding the matter and rejected any implication that he had misled the House. He referred to a poverty analysis document, indicating that it was available for consideration by the Chair or Members but that its use was at their discretion. Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva informed the House that the Committee on Public Finance held the first seminar in its knowledge-sharing series on 21 March 2025, themed “Post-Economic Crisis Poverty Dynamics,” conducted by the Centre for Poverty Analysis. He tabled a short note on the seminar and requested that copies be made available to all Members of Parliament. Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary As Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that he tabled the relevant report the following day, as recorded in Hansard. He clarified that the Committee had not approved it on that day and said approval was granted only two weeks later. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Parliamentary Procedure Read →