First Bishop of the Batticaloa Diocese, Retired Bishop Joseph Ponniah, passed away today at the age of 74, following a brief illness.
The Bishop’s Office confirmed his passing, noting that he had been unwell for over two weeks.
Born on October 12, 1952, in Thannamunai, Batticaloa, Bishop Ponniah was a dedicated scholar and spiritual leader. He pursued his early education at St. Valanar Minor Seminary and St. Susaiyappar College, before earning degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Biblical Studies from institutions including St. Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirappalli, the National Seminary in Pune, and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
Ordained as a Catholic priest in 1980, he served in various roles including parish priest, seminary director, and professor. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Trincomalee-Batticaloa Diocese in 2008 and later became the first Bishop of the newly established Batticaloa Diocese in 2012.
His funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
The United States has told Sri Lanka that the disposition of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr and its crew is a matter for Colombo to resolve under its own laws and international obligations, while signalling it is in active talks with Sri Lanka to contain Iran’s threat to US interests.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism today established a 24x7 Emergency Response Unit to coordinate matters related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
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