The first bishop of the Diocese of Batticaloa and Bishop Emeritus, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponniah, was called to eternal rest on May 19th at the age of 73.
Born on October 12, 1952, in Thannamunai, Batticaloa, he began his early education at St. Sebastian’s School in his hometown. He entered St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Trincomalee and continued his priestly formation at St. Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirappalli, India. He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. Paul’s Seminary and a Bachelor of Theology from the Papal Seminary in Pune.
Ordained a priest in 1980, he faithfully served in several parishes across the Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa, including Ayithiyamalai, Pullumalai, Vakarai, Veechukalmunai, and Thandavanveli. He also held numerous academic and pastoral roles, such as Rector of St. Sebastian’s Minor Seminary, Professor of Biblical Studies at the National Seminary in Ampitiya, and lecturer at Eastern University.
As an external graduate of the University of Peradeniya, he obtained a degree in arts and later pursued advanced studies in Rome, earning a Licentiate in Biblical Theology in 1993.
He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trincomalee–Batticaloa on March 19, 2008, and consecrated on May 24, 2008. Four years later, on September 23, 2012, he became the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Batticaloa.
Throughout his episcopal ministry, Bishop Ponniah was a visionary leader. He was instrumental in founding a theological institute within the diocese, which offered formal theological education and a bachelor’s degree in theology for the faithful. Within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, he served as Deputy Chair of several key commissions, including Catholic Education, Catechetics and Bible Apostolate, Evangelization, Liturgy, and Culture, and was also a member of the Finance Committee.
The funeral Mass was held on May 21st at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa and was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese. Bishops from across the country, clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered in gratitude to bid farewell to a shepherd who dedicated his life to the Church and to the people he served with love and humility.
