Born in Ceylon 5 November 1879 son of Mudaliyar William Marcellus De Silva, he was educated at Royal College, Colombo, and at the London Hospital Medical College from which he took the Fellowship, being the first Ceylonese postgraduate student to do so. He returned to Colombo where he made a distinguished career in practice, teaching, and administration. He was surgeon to the General Hospital 1907-30 and senior surgeon 1930-40; ear nose and throat surgeon, Victoria Memorial Hospital, 1908-30; and subsequently consulting surgeon to both hospitals. He lectured in surgery and clinical surgery at Ceylon Medical College 1907-40. He was also a Public Service Commissioner. De Silva was a keen naturalist and a successful cultivator of orchids. For his public services he was created CBE, KBE, and finally KCMG. He married in 1909 Laura Elizabeth Dias, who survived him with their daughter. He died at his home, 14 Ward Place, Colombo, on 22 September 1957, aged 77.