Major Edward "Eddie" Alexander Nugawela, ED (21 September 1898 – 5 July 1972) was a Ceylonese lawyer, soldier and politician.

His father was Punchi Banda Nugawela who was the Rate Mahatmaya of Sarasiyapattuwa and the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth.

[3] Nugawela joined the Ceylon Light Infantry as a volunteer officer having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1928.

[5] Major Nugawela was elected to the House of Representatives of the first Parliament of Ceylon, in the 1947 general election from Kadugannawa representing the United National Party and was appointed the Minister of Education by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake on 26 September 1947.

He retain the Education portfolio in Dudley Senanayake's cabinet having been re-elected in 1952 general election.