Global Hot 40 has selected Bathiya & Santhush of Sri Lanka as Artist of the Month of May 2003.

Bathiya & Santhush is the biggest musical act to hit the Sri Lankan music scene since the 1970s. Their first two albums went platinum.

Bathiya & Santhush is the biggest musical act to hit the Sri Lankan music scene since the 1970s. Performing music in both English and Sinhala, their unique fusion of hip-hop, dance and Sinhala pop bridge the gap between urban and rural music fans. Their first two albums went platinum, and the duo recently signed a recording contract with Sony Music/"M" Entertainment.

We give below some of their achievements:-

AUGUST 2001

Bathiya and Santhush made Sri Lanka proud when they won the Silver Award at the 'Azia Dauysy', World Music month. The duo was rated No.2 in the Euro-Asia Region and No.1 in Asia.

The festival, organized by the Voice of Asia" International Music Foundation attracted many entries from Europe and the Asian region. 16 entries from 14 countries were chosen by a 14-member panel of judges for the finals held in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan.

Ravindu on Rap and Nevanthi on chorals accompanied Bathiya and Santhush on the tour.

Their first album 'Vasanthaye was released in 1998. Since then they have invariably been in the charts almost every week producing seven No. 1 hits in Sri Lanka. Their second album 'Life was also a massive success proving their talent further and their mega hits 'Vasanthaye" and 'Siri Sangabodi Maligawedi have earned for them fans all over Sri Lanka and even overseas.

Bathiya and Santhush are both students of classical western music and have been singing with Mary Ann Singers of Mary Ann David -- a classical choral group - for ten years.

FEBRUARY 2002

The worlds leading music company Universal signed on Saturday, two of Sri Lankas most promising musicians marking the countrys formal entry to international music publishing.

With the signing of the contract Bathiya & Santhush became Sri Lankas first recording and performing artistes to be offered such a contract by an international music publishing company.

Bathiya & Santhush join Universal Music Groups exclusive club of musical greats such as Elton John, Sting, Shaggy and Shania Twain.

Bathiya & Santhush will serve as "brand ambassadors" for Coca-Cola - 'CELEBRATE THE FUSION' during the two-year partnership. Concerts will be organized and consumer promotions launched.

ALBUM'S RELEASED

Their first CD 'Vasanthaye' was a creative piece, the second 'Life" was in the technical side. The third 'Tharunyaye' took one and half years to compose the music.

They compose their own music, and sometimes write the lyrics in English and get them rewritten in Sinhala. Vasantha Dukgannarala, Samanala Miyuru, Nilar Cassim and Kingsley Ratnayake also help them with the lyrics.

This News Item Is For Immediate Release With Credits To Globalhot40.com