In 1976, after leaving Anananda College, where he had a basic education in science, Religion, and Languages, Harsha entered the professional world of music in Sri Lanka. The veteran Sri Lankan Jazz pianist Cecil Rodrigo became his mentor in the field of Improvised music, and Jazz. He played for bands such as “Pioneers”, “Arabesque”, and “Amazing Grace”.

In 1978 Harsha started touring abroad with the highly acclaimed Pop/Dance band Prianthi and Lotus, led by the brilliant Pop/Jazz guitarist Raja Jalaldeen and vocalist Prianthi Manamperi. They performed in the Middle East, Kenya (Nairobi), Italy (Venice), and Kuwait City. 

While in Kuwait Harsha composed his first piece called “Serendipity” (later titled by Ranjani Mendis, wife of Nimal Mendis).  In 1984 Nimal Mendis wrote the lyrics for “Sons and Lover”, Harsha’s first Pop composition, sung by Prianthi. A few months later he did the instrumentation for  Nimal’s show in which thirty original songs by him and other Sri Lankan artistes were featured. It was during this time that Nimal introduced Harsha to Sarath Fernando, the veteran Sri Lankan Film Music director, and Oboe player.

It was during this time that Nimal introduced Harsha to Sarath Fernando, the veteran Sri Lankan Film Music director, and Oboe player.He in turn introduced Harsha to dramatist Dhamma  Jagoda   (who  was directing a production of the Sarasaviya Film Festival), to perform Nimal Mendis’ “Kandyan Dance”. In a new arrangement of this piece Harsha used Piano, Bass Guitar (Jude Pieris), Western Drums (Hemapala Gallage) (his debut as a drummer), Mandolin (Anthony Surendra), and six Getabera .

The last being the most unexpected! The fresh sound of the Piano played percussively with local drums received a standing ovation from the audience! Though the “Purists” frowned upon the idea of building on tradition, the performance brought very favorable comments from Film Director Tissa Abeysekera and actor Vijaya Kumaratunga. More than ten years later Harsha was engaged by Tissa to compose the music for his productions “Pitagamkarayo”(Tele Drama) and “Sun and the Moon Stone” (Documentary Film). 

In Pitagamkarayo Harsha used the ‘Horanava’ or local folk Oboe, to play properly composed melody lines.. The Horanava was played by Sunil Jayasiri.

On the 6th of September 1987, Lalanath de Silva conducted the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka at the 5th Savasangeetha Anniversary held at the BMICH that featured music by Sri Lankan artistes, orchestrated by Harsha Makalande. ‘Svarasanga Vannama’ which is a work for Symphony Orchestra, Piano and Local Drums had it’s main theme performed here. The completed work had it’s debut on the 29th of May 1992 at Lady’s College Colombo. It was performed by the Colombo Symphony Orchestra (now The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka), under the baton of Dr. Earl de Fonseka with Ramya de Livera Perera at the Piano and Ravibandu Vidyapathi on local drums. The work has been the subject of post graduate research both here and abroad. In 1988  Harsha's  fusion music group  KHROME was created.