William Arthur de Silva (1869–1942) was a veterinary surgeon, philanthropist, Buddhist revivalist and legislator.
He qualified in veterinary medicine and built a substantial business before turning to public work. He was a major benefactor of Buddhist education, funding schools and the Maha Bodhi Society, of which he was president, and he assembled one of the most important private collections of Sinhala palm-leaf manuscripts, later given to the nation.
He was elected to the State Council and served as Minister of Health in the 1930s, where he was associated with the expansion of rural medical services and with the response to the malaria epidemic of 1934–35.