The Episcopal Consecration of Msgr. Joseph Ponniah was held on Saturday 24th May 2008 at St. Mary's Co-Cathedral, Battcaloa amidst a large gathering of people, Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious, some Catholic members of the Parliament and other dignitaries

His Lordship Bishop Kingsley Swampillai, the Bishop of the Diocese of Trincomalee - Batticaloa, was the Chief Consecrator and His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev. Dr. Mario Zenari and His Lordship Bishop Valence Mendis-Bishop of Chilaw were the Co-consecrators.

His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis, Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Marcus Fernando, Bishop Vianney Fernando, Bishop Emeritus Frank Marcus Fernando, Bishop Raymond Peiris, Bishop Thomas  Savundranayagam, Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop Winston Fernando SSS, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI and Bishop Cletus Perera OSB were present at the Episcopal Consecration, which was first in the diocese.

His Lordship the Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ponniah is the first son of the soil of Batticaloa. In spite of the tension prevailing in the area after the recent Provincial Council election in the Eastern Province, people gathered from and near to witness this joyful event of the Diocese. His Lordship Bishop Kingsley Swampillai, the Bishop of Trincomalee - Batticaloa Diocese, said that " this is a historial event in our diocese and we are very happy and joyful to have Bishop Joseph Ponniah consecrated as the Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese to serve the people of God in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka."

At the end of the Mass, newly consecrated Bishop Jospeh Ponniah went around blessing and greeting the people and also accepting the joyful applause of the people. People holding Catholic flags greeted His Lordship bowing their heads. Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Joseph Ponniah added a new atmosphere to the town of Battcaloa, which was very well prepared with Catholic flags and cultural decorations.

His Lordship Bishop Joseph Ponniah and all the other Bishops were garlanded and were accompanied by the band of St. Michael's College, Batticaloa and at the entrance to the Cathedral, all the Bishops were welcome in the traditional way.

His Lordship Bishop Joseph Ponniah, was born on 12th October 1952, at Thannamunai, Batticaloa, was ordained a priest on 30th April 1980.

Having done his B.Ph at St. Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirapalli in South India, and B.Th in the Papal Seminary, Poona, India, returned to Sri Lanka for the Ordination. Thereafter he did B.A. in the Unversity of Peradeniya, Licentiate in Biblical Theology at Urbania University, Rome, and Ph.D in Christian Civilization at the Unversity of Jaffna.

He served at the Parishes of Batticaloa Cathedral, Vakarai, Veechukalmunai, Aiyithiyamalai, Periya Pullumalai and Thandavanvely. He was appointed as the Rector of St. Joseph's Minor Seminary, Batticaloa and served from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 he appointed as a Lecturer at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy in 1996 and was involved in the National Seminary formation and lecturing Sacred Scripture, Hinduism, Indian Philosophy and Catechetics, untill 2001.

He was the Editor of the Diocesan Catholic Paper "VETTAPPU" and the Diocesan Bulletin. As a Spiritual Director he assisted the Legion of Mary and Divine Mercy Apostolates.

He was appointed as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Trinco-Batticaloa on 19th February 2006 and beside the commitments in the Diocese, he hab been lecturing at the Eastern University, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa.