Kanditheemu (Shaviyani Atoll)

Kanditheemu
Island Summary
Belongs to	Shaviyani Atoll
Location	06°26′20″N 72°55′00″E
Population	1297
Length	1720m
Width	700m
Distance from Malé	258.26km
Administrative Information
Island Chief	Ahmed Solah

Kanditheemu (Dhivehi: ކަނޑިތީމު) is one of the inhabited islands of Shaviyani Atoll administrative and geographically part of the Miladhummadulhu Atoll in the Maldives. The island lies on the North West of the atoll near the border with Miladhunmadulhu-Thiladhunmathi atoll borders.

The total land area of the island is 0,89km² and surrounded by deep lagoons on the northern and southern end of the island, where boats can be anchored. The main occupation of the people of Kanditheemu is fishing.

The oldest written sample of the Thaana script in which the Dhivehi language is written is found in Kanditheemu. It is inscribed on the door posts of the main Hukuru Miskiy (Friday mosque) of the island. The dates 1008AH (1599AD) and 1020AH (1611AD) are written on either sides of the door as the dates for the building and the renewal of the roof during the reigns of Ibrahim Kalaafaan (Sultan Ibrahim III) and Hussain Faamuladeyri Kilege (Sultan Hussain II) respectively.

References

• Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī. Malé 1999.
• The Islands of Maldives. Hasan A. Maniku. Novelty. Male 1983.
• A Concise Ethymological Vocabulary of Dhivehi Language. Hasan A. Maniku. Speedmark. Colombo 2000.