[1] Silva was educated at the Sinhala Mixed School in Monaragala and in 1949 was appointed as town headman of Muppane.
[2] Prior to the 2nd parliamentary election held in May 1952, Silva gave up his post as headman so that he could contest the seat of Buttala as an Independent.
[3][4] He didn't run in the 1955 parliamentary by-election, held on 5 March 1955, following the death of the sitting member, Sir Leo Fernando.
[5] Silva, this time running as the candidate for Sri Lanka Freedom Party, was successful at the 3rd parliamentary election held in April 1956, defeating Gladwin Kotelawala by 3,281, securing 7,416 votes (634% of the total vote).
[8] On 3 December 1964, he crossed the floor with Charles Percival de Silva, the deputy party leader, and twelve other members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to vote against the government's bill to nationalise the country's newspapers, resulting in defeat of the government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike by one vote.