Dr Varughese John has served on SAIACS’s faculty in the Department of Theology and History since 2011 and was recently installed as the Principal of SAIACS. During his PhD, he was a Junior Research Fellow of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New Delhi. Before joining SAIACS, he was a post-doctoral Kierkegaard House Foundation Fellow at the Howard and Edna Hong Kierkegaard Library, St Olaf College, Minnesota. Later, as a Langham International Post-Doctoral Fellow, he spent a year at the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

Venerable Samuel J Ponniah is the Chaplain of St Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and also serves as Vicar of SS Mary and John’s Church, Nugegoda. As Chaplain, he continues to engage in spiritual leadership, chapel services, pastoral care, and likely oversight of student spiritual life at STC. In his capacity as Vicar of SS Mary and John, Nugegoda, he oversees parish ministry, services, pastoral care, church administration, and community outreach.

Rev Dr Nadarajah Arulnathan is the Principal of Theological College of Lanka and an ordained minister in the Methodist Church. 

Dr Mano Emmanuel is the Head of Academic Advancement at CTS. An accountant by profession, she moved to theological training at the London School of Theology (UK). She completed her Master of Arts in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation, there, and returned to Sri Lanka to join CTS. She worships at Kollupitiya Methodist Church where she is a local preacher, and serves on the Board of Worship. She is the author of To Faith Add Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. She was awarded a PhD in Peace Studies from the Asia Graduate School of Theology (Philippines), and her thesis has been published by Langham Publishing, titled Interpersonal Reconciliation between Christians in a Shame-Oriented Culture: A Sri Lankan Case Study. Her latest book titled Honouring God in Times of Conflict was also published by Langham this year.

Rev Ravin Caldera is the Academic Dean at CTS, and has been a faculty member since 2004. He graduated from CTS in 2003 and was invited to teach at CTS as a visiting faculty member. In 2005, he was appointed Lecturer-in-Training and went on to become a member of the full-time faculty. His interest in cartography has made him a key resource person for maps on the biblical world in Sri Lankan publications. He completed a BA in Social Sciences from the Open University of Sri Lanka and earned an MA in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary (USA). He is an ordained minister of the Living Christ Church.

Julian Devadason serves as Assistant Academic Dean at CTS. He is a graduate of the South Asia Institute of Theology (SAIT, Sri Lanka), and the Asia Center for Theological Studies and Mission (ACTS, South Korea). He is currently reading for an MTh from the South African Theological Seminary (South Africa). He is a Ministry Associate for Ambassadors for Christ International, and a Pro-Life Speaker for the Abortion Survivors Network. A member of St James’ Church, Chilaw, Julian is also a Haggai National Facilitator and a resource person of the Board of Christian Education – Diocese of Colombo, Church of Ceylon.

Dr Ivor Poobalan is the Principal of CTS. Commencing full-time ministry as a youth pastor in his local Methodist Church at 19, he recognised the crucial importance of biblically grounded mature Christian leadership to sustain effective ministry. He is a graduate of the London School of Theology (UK), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (USA), and the University of Cape Town (South Africa). He joined CTS in 1996 and was invited to serve as its Principal from December 1998. Ivor is the author of, Who is the God of This Age: Paul and the Sovereignty of God in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Everything Has Become New! Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. He is a contributor to Asian Christian Theology, the South Asia Bible Commentary (2015), NIV God’s Justice Bible, and NIV Understand the Faith Study Bible. He currently serves as Chairperson of Sri Lanka’s first world-missions initiative, Global Impact. Ivor’s international ministry includes serving as the Co-Chair of the Theology Working Group of the Lausanne Movement.

Mitchelle Peiris is a member of the full-time faculty at CTS. She is a graduate of Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (MA) and Southern Asia Bible College (BTh). She lectures at CTS with a focus on Church History and Practical Theology. With over 10 years of serving and training youth leaders at a national level, Mitchelle currently serves as a Next-Gen pastor at Life Centre, Assembly of God Colombo. She is married to an ordained clergyman of the Anglican church, where she also serves as a local preacher.

Nathanael Somanathan is a member of the full-time faculty at CTS. He is a theology lecturer and an associate pastor. He is in the final stages of completing his PhD in theological anthropology at the University of Birmingham (UK). His academic and pastoral work is shaped by a deep commitment to the life and mission of the Church. His teaching integrates theological depth with practical relevance for ministry today.

Rev Fr Justin Chawkan is the Provincial Superior of the Province of Christ the Bread of Life, Sri Lanka. He also serves as Professor of Canon Law, Theology and Philosophy at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy; lecturer at Aquinas’ College, Borella; resource person and member of the National Liturgy Commission, Sri Lanka; member representative for Sri Lanka at the Office of Theological Concerns; Ex-Co member of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors, Sri Lanka; and, member of the International Theological Commission of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.