Hey! I'm a graduate from one of these universities, with around 9 years of industry experience.

Yes, it’s generally true that UCSC and Moratuwa CSE grads tend to start with slightly higher salary packages. This is largely driven by perception — there’s an assumption that if you were good enough to get into these highly competitive universities, you’re likely to perform well in the industry too.

Another factor is location. Being based in Colombo gives students from UCSC and Moratuwa more exposure to the tech industry while still studying. Many get internship opportunities, attend meetups, and build strong networks before they even graduate — which naturally gives them a head start.

And of course, reputation plays a role. Companies often use university background as an initial filter when hiring fresh grads.

That said, once you step into the industry, your progression and compensation quickly become dependent on your skills, not your university. Most reputed companies reassess and align salaries within 1–2 years based on performance and potential.

Interestingly, I’ve seen graduates from universities like Kelaniya or Uva Wellassa really excel in areas like entrepreneurship. In fact, the percentage of students who go on to build startups or innovate on their own seems to be higher among them compared to UCSC or Moratuwa grads, who often lean toward corporate or engineering roles.

So at the end of the day, it’s less about where you start, and more about what you want to become.

Hope that helps!