E. A. Nugawela

Major Edward Alexander Nugawela (21 September 1898 – 5 July 1972) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He was the first Cabinet Minister of Education in independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) (1947–1954), later Cabinet Minister of Health (1954–1956), a Member of Parliament and State Council.[1]

Hon. Maj.

E. A. Nugawela

MP
E. A. Nugawela in the first Cabinet of Ministers of Ceylon
Minister of Education and Health
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Kadugannawa
In office
1947–1958
Personal details
NationalityCeylonese
Political partyUnited National Party
Alma materRoyal College, Colombo
ProfessionAdvocate
Military service
Branch/serviceCeylon Defense Force
Years of service1928-1947
RankMajor
UnitCeylon Light Infantry

Born in Kandy, to the Radala Nugawela family. His father was Punchi Banda Nugawela who was the Rate Mahatmaya of Sarasiyapattuwa and Mallika Dunuwila, daughter of Dunuwila Disawa.[2]

Educated at Royal College, Colombo and at Colombo Law College. Completing his legal education, Nugawela took oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon and developed a legal practice in Kandy.[3]

Military service

Nugawela joined the volunteer regiment Ceylon Light Infantry in 1928 as a Second Lieutenant. He left the Ceylon Defense Force after war service during World War II, having been one few Ceylonese officers to reach the rank of Major.[3][4]

Political career

Nugawela entered politics in the 1936 Ceylonese State Council election, succeeding his father P. B. Nugawela Dissawe to the Galagedera seat in the second State Council of Ceylon. He was a member of the Special Committee on Education setup in 1940.[5] He was elected to the first Parliament of Ceylon, in the 1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election and was appointed the Minister of Education by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake on 26 September 1947, holding the post till 12 October 1953. He is noted for educational reforms and increasing the number of state schools during his tenure, implementation the free education scheme started by Dr C.W.W. Kannangara.[6] He thereafter served as Minister of Health till 1956 under Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala having been re-elected in 1952. He lost his parliamentary seat in the 1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election.

The Government of Sri Lanka issued a stamp in his honor on 22 May 1988.[3]

Family

He married Louise Gooneratna.

References
  1. A brief history of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, by Deshakeerthi Chandrasiri Weligamage (Ex. Director, State Printing Corporation) Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Sri Lanka Kandyan Sinhalese Family Genealogy, NUGAWELA - Family #3158
  3. "Our educationists". Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  4. "Api Army’ forms new volunteer reserve:Army volunteers to beef up nation development
  5. A Fresh Look at Kannangara Reforms
  6. Our educationists
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