Maldives is an archipelago of 26 atolls located southwest of Sri Lanka. The islands are in the center of the ancient maritime trade route where east meets the west. Maldives was known by many sobriquets. Ancient seafarers called Maldives ‘the flowers of the indies’, ‘Pearl necklace of the Indian Ocean’, ‘the cowry isles’ by Arab merchants and ‘the sunny side of life’ by present day tourists.