State Minister of Rehabilitation and Resettlement M.L.A.M. Hizbullah requested the President to name as patriots seven Muslim leaders who were classified as traitors by the British government of Ceylon.

These seven individuals were named as traitors by the British colonial government for their participation in the national liberation struggle of the country, the minister said.

He pointed out that the President recently named 19 leaders of the Great Rebellion of 1818 as national heroes. The Gazette notification published by the British colonial governor in 1818 naming them as traitors was annulled by the President recently.