Court bars CCD from arresting Attorney Dinesh Dodamgoda

BY Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) from arresting Attorney-at-Law Dinesh Dodamgoda in connection with an allegation that he had allegedly aided and abetted an assault and shooting incident said to have been fabricated and orchestrated by Thusitha Halloluwa.  

The interim order, issued by Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha K. Fernando, will be effective for 14 days.  

The petitioner, Dodamgoda, stated that no evidence has been found to substantiate any offence committed by him, even after an examination of his mobile phone. He further reiterated that he had only provided professional services to Thusitha Halloluwa in the discharge of his duties as an Attorney-at-Law.  

The Petitioner stated that during the investigations, his client Thusitha Halloluwa was arrested by the (CCD) alleging that the assault and shooting incident occurred on May 17, 2025 was a fabricated incident orchestrated by the Petitioner’s Client Thusitha Halloluwa  

The petitioner stated that the CCD is attempting to arrest the Petitioner, naming him as a suspect in connection with this incident, without following the due process and without having any evidence against the Petitioner implicating him for any offence.  

The Petitioner states that on or around May 6, 2025, he had been providing professional services as junior counsel, with the assistance of senior counsel Anuja Premaratne, PC, in connection with an investigation against Thusitha Halloluwa, an opposition political activist who served as a Director General for the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, regarding a public statement made by him during the previous local government elections.  

The Petitioner states that his client, Thusitha Halloluwa, has duly paid the Petitioner’s professional fees, and the Petitioner provided the necessary legal representation and advice on behalf of said client Thusitha Halloluwa.  

The Petitioner states that on the night of May 17 2025, the Petitioner along with his client, Thusitha Halloluwa, attended a legal consultation with Anuja Premaratne PC. While returning with his client, he was attacked by two unidentified gunmen nearly 200 meters away from the Chamber of Anuja Premaratne. As a result of the attack, the Petitioner was injured and admitted to Colombo National Hospital, where he received inpatient treatment in the Accident and Emergency Ward.  

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris appeared for the petitioner.