During his early musical journey, Bathiya delved into western classical music studies while also immersing himself in various musical activities. Bathiya played the alto saxophone in the Ananda College Senior Brass Band and occasionally filled in for the percussion section. Additionally, he showcased his talent as a pianist with the school's western music society and served as a founding member and lead vocalist of the school band. Bathiyas' musical expertise earned him numerous awards in inter-school competitions, establishing him as a prominent figure in the school's music scene during the mid-90s.

Later on, his musical horizons were expanded by learning music technology with Sri Lankan artist Dilup Gabadamudalige. Bathiya further honed his skills by joining the Marry Anne Singers Colombo, where he studied opera, jazz, and Broadway singing under the guidance of the Mary Anne David School of Vocal Music. During the late 1990s, Bathiya ventured into freelance vocal work, lending his voice to radio jingles and commercials alongside Ranga Dassanayake.

During this period, Bathiya collaborated with Santhush Weeraman on several projects, laying the groundwork for the formation of BNS, the iconic musical duo.