The region between Maldives and Sri Lanka are between huge Maritime Lanes that goes to SCS and then to China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia. So they have a significant Values to them but the whole purpose of Gawadar is to evade this whole Route at the time of Crisis as Gawadar Port connected to China would be able to facilitate Chinese Imports and Exports by evading the route but its drawback is its Faraway from Eastern China which is Major Chinese Economic Zone. The Political development in Sri Lanka is discouraging so Chinese would try their luck in Maldives as Backup until situation in Sri Lanka comes in their Favor and then they can start their work there.
Chinese Purpose is to Strengthen themselves in SCS while Indian purpose is to Deny Chinese Presence in their backyard. What US is interested is to keep their Watch in the region so this could be potential Future Conflict zone which could lead India to Isolation in the South Asian neighborhood.