The Maldives (/ˈmɔːldaɪvz/ , /ˈmɔːldiːvz/ or /ˈmaeldaɪvz/), ˈmældaɪvz officially The republic Of (Maldives: maldivian ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ Dhivehi'raa Jeyge), jumhooriyya is an island country and archipelago in The Indian. Ocean it is located southwest Of india And Sri lanka in The Laccadive. seahe name Maldives may derive from Tamil maalai (garland) and theevu (island), or මාල දිවයින Maala Divaina (Necklace Islands) in Sinhala. The Maldivian people are called Dhivehin. The word Theevu (archaic Dheevu, related to Tamil தீவு dheevu) means island, and Dhives (Dhivehin) means islanders (i.e., Maldivians).