By Hafsa Rizvi

In the bustling tech hubs of Colombo and beyond, a quiet revolution is taking place. After clocking out from their 9-to-5 jobs, software engineers, QA specialists, and IT professionals across Sri Lanka are firing up their laptops for round two. Welcome to the world of moonlighting where your side hustle might just become your main character moment.

From Chamali's content creation dreams to fuel her parents' luxury to Shalik's entrepreneurial journey that led him to CEO status, Sri Lankan tech professionals are redefining what it means to have a career in 2025. But is burning the candle at both ends worth it? Let's dive into the digital trenches where ambition meets opportunity.

The Lankan Hustle: More Than Just Extra Rupees
"I want to give luxury life to my parents and our main salary is not quite enough," shares Chamali, a 26-year-old Associate Software Engineer who's juggling content creation, YouTube videos, and tutoring alongside her full-time role. Her story echoes across WhatsApp groups and office corridors island-wide, young professionals looking at their peers in non-tech fields living seemingly more comfortable lives and wondering, "How do I bridge this gap?"

The reality hits hard when you're comparing notes with friends. While tech salaries in Sri Lanka have grown, the cost of living and aspirations have grown faster. That weekend trip to Singapore, the new car, or simply ensuring your parents can retire comfortably, these dreams often require more than a single paycheck can provide.

But it's not just about the money, machang. Zahra Hasan, an IT undergraduate, puts it perfectly: "I'd love to take on side projects, not just to earn money, but also to grow personally and use what I've learned in real-life situations." For many, moonlighting becomes the playground where theoretical knowledge meets practical application.

Why One Skill Isn’t Enough Anymore?
Ilma Idrees, a Software QA Engineer with a background in Software Engineering, discovered something powerful during her moonlighting journey: "it served as an opportunity to broaden my technical expertise and tackle challenges outside the scope of my primary responsibilities." In a field where technology evolves faster than our ability to keep up, side projects become laboratories for experimentation.

Think about it, your day job might have you working on legacy systems or specific frameworks, but your side hustle lets you play with the latest React features, explore AI integrations, or build that blockchain project you've been curious about. It's like having a personal tech playground where failure is affordable and learning is accelerated.

Shalik Rizni, now Tech Lead and CEO at TOGGLE, emphasizes this point: "You get to experiment, make mistakes, and build things you normally wouldn't in a corporate role." His journey from moonlighting to founding a company illustrates how side projects can evolve into career-defining opportunities.

Too Many Hats, Too Little Time: The Chaos We Call Balance
Let's keep it real, moonlighting isn't Instagram-worthy all the time. Chamali's honesty cuts through the glamour: "I couldn't keep the consistency, which means all seven days I'm occupied. Weekend I have to do the university studies." The struggle is real, and burnout isn't just a buzzword, it's a genuine occupational hazard.

Ilma acknowledges the personal costs: "often necessitating personal sacrifices such as working during evenings or weekends." Your social life might take a hit, those Netflix series will remain unwatched, and your family might start questioning why you're always glued to your laptop.
But here's where the discipline separates the dreamers from the achievers. Successful moonlighters develop time management skills that would make productivity gurus jealous. They learn to prioritize ruthlessly, automate repetitively, and focus intensely. These aren't just career skills, they're life skills that compound over time.

Digital Lines We Shouldn’t Cross
Before you start dreaming of your side hustle empire, let's talk about the elephant in the room, ethics. Shalik brings up crucial points: "don't moonlight using your employer's time or resources, and avoid taking on work that's in direct competition with your company."

In Sri Lanka's close-knit tech community, reputation travels fast. That freelance project you took on using company time or the client you poached from your employer won't just hurt your current job, it could haunt your entire career. The tech circle in Colombo is smaller than you think, and people talk.

Zahra, despite being an undergraduate, shows wisdom beyond her years: "People should also follow their company's rules and avoid any conflicts." The key is transparency and boundaries. Many companies are actually supportive of moonlighting if it doesn't interfere with work performance and isn't in direct competition.

Success Means Connecting, Not Burning
What makes moonlighting particularly interesting in the Sri Lankan context is our relationship-centric culture. Unlike the individualistic Silicon Valley narrative, Lankan tech professionals often moonlight with a community mindset. Chamali's motivation to provide for her parents, the collaborative spirit that Shalik mentions in helping friends with startups, these reflect our cultural values.

The most successful moonlighters in Sri Lanka aren't just building side businesses; they're building ecosystems. They're mentoring juniors, contributing to open-source projects, and creating opportunities for others. This approach not only builds a stronger professional network but also contributes to the growth of Sri Lanka's entire tech ecosystem.

As Shalik concludes, "many of us in tech wouldn't be where we are today without having side hustled our way into experience." In a market where formal tech education is still catching up with industry needs, moonlighting becomes an informal but crucial part of professional development.
The future belongs to those who don't just clock in and clock out, but to those who see every hour as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build. Whether you're coding for clients after dinner or building the next big startup on weekends, remember, your side hustle today might just be your main story tomorrow. After all, in the land of serendipity, you never know which sunset project might become your sunrise success.