Refugee from Lanka is new mayor of Ipswich

The new mayor of Ipswich is a refugee from Sri Lanka. At the Annual Meeting of Ipswich Borough Council on Wednesday 15 May, the new Mayor of Ipswich for 2024-25 was confirmed as Councillor Elango K Elavalakan.During the Mayor Making Ceremony, Councillor Elavalakan was invested with the Chain of Office and Mayoral Robes.

Sri Lankan-born Elavalakan has lived in Ipswich with his wife Manchula since 2006 after working in India, Uganda and Rwanda before settling in the UK.The Mayor has worked as an engineer and manager, and currently runs his own business.

The Mayor says: “My theme for this year is “Support and Wellbeing”. I truly believe that we can, and we should, lift others up when they need it, and that we should always consider the wellbeing of others in everything that we do. The theme lends itself to the two charities that I have chosen to support in my Mayoral year, Cancer Support Suffolk, and Genesis Orwell Mencap. They both provide vital support to those who really need it and seek to improve the wellbeing of their service users at the same time.

I am truly honoured to be nominated as Mayor of Ipswich, a nomination that I receive with humility and pride. We chose to make the wonderful town of Ipswich our home 18 years ago and have never regretted it. I look forward to representing our town, with Manchula as Mayoress, with dignity and respect.”

Councillor Elavalakan has been a St John’s ward councillor since 2014, representing residents in that area of Ipswich. He lives with his wife Manchula, who he married in 1998 in Sri Lanka.