by Our Correspondent in Colombo
A man at the center of explosive allegations against President Anurama Kumara Dissanayake was shot and injured in Colombo evening today in what appears to be a targeted attack.
Thusitha Halloluwa, the former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), and his lawyer came under fire while traveling in a vehicle along Dabare Mawatha in Narahenpita. According to police reports, two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
While no immediate injuries from the gunfire were reported, police later confirmed that Halloluwa was assaulted during or shortly after the shooting and was subsequently hospitalized with injuries sustained in the attack. The motive behind the assault remains under investigation.
Authorities also stated that a file believed to belong to Halloluwa was stolen during the incident. The contents of the file have not yet been disclosed.
This incident follows Halloluwa’s recent summons by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to record a statement concerning his explosive claims against President Dissanayake. Halloluwa alleges that the President is among Sri Lanka’s wealthiest politicians due to secretly holding substantial shares in a Greek shipping company via a third-party agency.
Further allegations suggest that this secret business is linked to a Greek shipping conglomerate, with the President maintaining indirect ownership to obscure his involvement. These claims have stirred significant controversy within political and business circles, raising questions about transparency and conflicts of interest at the highest levels of government.
Police are actively investigating the shooting, assault, and theft. The assailants remain unidentified, and no arrests have been made. The police media spokesperson has urged anyone with information to assist the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not officially confirmed whether today’s attack is connected to Halloluwa’s recent whistleblowing activities or his testimony at the CID, but the timing of the attack has raised serious concerns about potential intimidation.
