Joseph Ponniah

Joseph Ponniah was a Sri Lankan Roman Catholic prelate, who served as a Bishop of Batticaloa.

Background

Ponniah was born on 12 October 1952 in Thannamunai in eastern Ceylon. He was educated at St. Joseph's Minor Seminary and St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee. He had a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. Paul Seminary, Thiruchirapally and a Bachelor of Theology from the National Seminary, Poonah. Ponniah also had a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Peradeniya, a Licentiate in Biblical Theology degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian civilization from the University of Jaffna.
Ponniah died on 19 May 2025, at the age of 72.

Career

Ponniah was ordained a priest in April 1980. He was parish priest at St. Mary's Co-Cathedral, Batticaloa, Vaharai, Veechchu Kalmunai and Ayhiyamalai. He was rector at the Minor Seminar, Batticaloa before teaching Pauline theology as professor of holy scriptures at the National Seminary, Ampitiya. He was then parish priest in Thandavanveli and vicar general for the Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa. He also lectured at the Eastern University, Sri Lanka. In February 2008 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa and was ordained a bishop in May 2008. He was appointed Bishop of Batticaloa in July 2012.