But when i looked at the new dimmer switch id bought it had l1 l2 and a symbol i assume means common like two bits of wire twisted round each other. There are two wiring options for this.

How To Wire A Two Way Switch
Wiring 2 way light switch l1 l2 l3. Some brands of switch may have slightly different labeling on the terminals such as c l1 l2 or even l1 l2 and l3. L1 is off when l2 is on and vice versa depending on the switch position. Some brands of switch may have slightly different labeling on the terminals such as c l1 l2 or even l1 l2 and l3. Two way switching means you can switch the same light fixture from two switches that are located in different sides of a room. This double switch is on. Put your blue to l2 on one switch and your yellow to l2 on the other ideally your old swicth should have had the red and link into c and not the other colours but as its used as a one way switch it wouldnt have mattered.
2 the two way switch will have a three core cable and the same colour needs to go to com or l1 if there is no com. When l1 is on l2 would be off. Two way switches have a com terminal as well as l1 and l2 terminals. Some switches will actually come two way as standard for use. As there is no c on you new switch use l1 as the common so your red goes to l1 on one side and then links to l1 on the other switch. Just ignore the l2 terminal.
A two way switch for switching a light from two different locations like in a hallway has a common c a l1 and an l2 terminal. You can use a two way switch for one way switching. A two way light switch is a simple single pole changeover switch with three terminals. Hi alli carefully labelled each wirepair of wires in the existing 10 year old double 2 way switch as l1 l2 and l3. When l1 is off l2 would be on. This type of switch is used where two switches control the same light such as at the top and bottom of a stairway.
1 onoff switch will use l1 and either l2 or l3 swapping l2 and l3 will swap which way is on and which way is off so either l2 or l3 will be empty. A two way light switch has three terminals and is quite like a sigle way switch but now the off position can be utilised also. Wiring a two way switch. These are typically labelled com l1 and l2 some may label the l1 and l2 positions as 1 way and 2 way. In one switch position the com terminal is connected to l1. 2 way light switch wiring 3 wire system new cable colours 2 way light switching 3 wire system old cable.
In the other switch position it changes over so that com is connected.