Bilaal Lookman, a first-year law student of Sri Lankan origin, has been elected as a municipal councillor in France at the age of 18.
Lookman secured a seat on the city council of Guyancourt, the outskirts of Paris, after contesting in the recent municipal elections, in which he also cast his vote for the first time.
Born in November 2007 to a family with roots in Mannar and Jaffna, he is among the youngest elected officials in France.
He developed an early interest in public affairs, gaining exposure through internships in the offices of a Member of Parliament, a former Minister of Education and the mayor of his town during his mid-teens.
Lookman has also engaged with senior political figures and diplomats, and began community service at a young age through local youth councils and volunteer work with a food-aid organisation. (Newswire)