Career
He started his career as a journalist in the Ceylon Independent and in The Times of Ceylon. Later he entered the Ceylon Law College and started a law practice in Kandy. In 1915 de Silva and East. West. Perera carried a secret Memorial initiated and drafted by Sir James Peiris to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, pleading for the repeal of martial law and vindication of the reputations of those who had been falsely accused during the riots of 1915.
De Silva entered politics after he was elected to the Kandy Municipal Council in 1930.
In 1931 he was elected to the State Council from the Central Province. Having been re-elected, he was appointed Minister of Health.
In 1943 he was elected the President of the Ceylon National Congress. After Ceylon gained independence, de Silva was appointed to the Doctorate. South. Senanayake"s cabinet as the first Minister for Industries and Fisheries.
Sir Desmond was married to Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia.
Their daughter, Victoria, is the great granddaughter of George East. de Silva and the great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, thereby making his descendant a cousin of Queen Elizabeth World War II George East. de Silva"s daughter Minnette de Silva was the first Asian woman to qualify as an architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects. She worked on early experiments of tropical modernism in Sri Lanka. He is also grand-uncle to journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.