| Type: | Bishop |
| Honorific-Prefix: | Rt Rev. |
| Joseph Ponniah | |
| Bishop of Batticaloa | |
| Church: | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province: | Colombo |
| Diocese: | Batticaloa |
| Term Start: | 3 July 2012 |
| Birth Date: | 12 October 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Thannamunai, Ceylon |
| Alma Mater: | University of Jaffna |
Right Reverend Joseph Ponniah (born 12 October 1952) is a Sri Lanka Tamil priest and the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Batticaloa.[1]
Ponniah was born on 12 October 1952 in Thannamunai in eastern Ceylon.[2] [3] He was educated at St. Joseph's Minor Seminary and St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee.[4] [5] He has Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. Paul Seminary, Thiruchirapally and a Bachelor of Theology from the National Seminary, Poonah.[4] [5] Ponniah also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Peradeniya, a Licentiate in Biblical Theology degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University (1993) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian civilization from the University of Jaffna.[4] [6] [7]
Ponniah was ordained as a priest in April 1980.[2] [3] He was parish priest at St. Mary's Co-Cathedral, Batticaloa (1980–82), Vaharai, Veechchu Kalmunai and Ayhiyamalai.[4] [7] He was rector at the Minor Seminar, Batticaloa (1993–96) before teaching Pauline theology as professor of holy scriptures at the National Seminary, Ampitiya (1996-01).[4] [5] [7] He was then parish priest in Thandavanveli (2001–06) and vicar general for the Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa (2006–08).[4] [7] He has also lectured at the Eastern University, Sri Lanka.[6] In February 2008 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa and was ordained as a bishop in May 2008.[2] [3] He was appointed Bishop of Batticaloa in July 2012.[2] [3]