Republic of Maldives

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic country located in Southern Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India. Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed sovereign states and the smallest Asian country.

In the 12th century, Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887.

Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People’s Majlis.