Dinojan's story is written by Mines Action Canada volunteer, Lousica Gajendiran.

The Sri Lankan civil war began in 1983 and officially ended in 2009. For many, the word “post-war” suggests closure. Peace. An end to danger. But for families living in former conflict areas, the war did not end when the fighting stopped. It stayed behind, hidden in the soil, silent and deadly.

In 2021, two young boys went into the forest with their grandmother to collect firewood. It was an ordinary day, filled with routine and curiosity. Among fallen leaves and branches, they found something unfamiliar: a small metal object, rusted, unrecognizable, and intriguing.

They did not know it was a hand grenade.

Driven by curiosity, they tried to open it with a screwdriver. In an instant, the place exploded with sound and fire.

Dinojan was fifteen years old when his life changed forever. He survived the blast, but at the cost of losing half his hand and several fingers. Recovery was not only physical. It was emotional, psychological, and lifelong. He often reflects on how a single moment reshaped his future, his confidence, and his sense of safety.

Today, Dinojan tells his story not for sympathy, but for prevention. He believes that even one risk education session could have changed that day. One conversation of awareness would have prevented him from the danger. 

Across post-conflict regions, stories like Dinojan’s continue to unfold. Children play in fields that were once battlegrounds. Adults collect firewood, farm land, or walk familiar paths, unaware that explosive remnants of war remain hidden beneath their feet. These dangers do not discriminate.

Risk education is one of the most powerful tools available to prevent these tragedies. It teaches people how to recognize danger, avoid contaminated areas, and make safer choices in environments shaped by conflict. It saves lives before harm occurs.

This story is about raising awareness. It is about ensuring that stories like Dinojan’s are heard by decision makers and the public. It is about reminding the world that the end of war does not mean the end of danger and that prevention is both possible and essential.

Advocacy matters because silence costs lives. Awareness creates action. And action ensures that no child has to learn about danger the hard way. 

At Mines Action Canada, we urge you to help spread awareness in any way you can, even through small actions, about the hidden dangers that continue to threaten lives long after conflict ends.

Note: Thank you to Dinojan, for sharing his story with us.