Giraavaru people
They are considered to be the earliest island community of the Maldives, predating Buddhism and the arrival of Indo-Aryan speakers in the archipelago.[3] They lived on the island of Giravaaru until 1972, but were later relocated to Male',[3] the nation's capital where they were assimilated in with the local social groups.[4] The Giraavaru origins are descendants of people from Malabar Coast of India and northwestern shores of Sri Lanka, who probably settled on the island around the Sangam period (300BC–300AD)[5][6] They are mentioned in the legend about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in Malé, where the Giraavaru people granted permission to a visiting king Koimala Kalo prior to the foundation of his kingdom on Malé.[citation needed] The Sultans of the Maldives used to recognize the autonomy of the Giraavaru people and did not apply quite the same laws on them as they did on the rest of their realm.When the airport there was extended they were shifted across to Malé and housed in a few blocks in newly reclaimed areas in the Maafanu district.