Colombo, April 23 (IANS): Sri Lanka Wednesday suspended sending its citizens for work to Libya due to the volatile situation in that country.

Mangala Randeniya, deputy general manager of the Foreign Employment Bureau, said some 20 Sri Lankans working legally in Libya will be flown back as soon as possible, Xinhua reported.

The country's external affairs ministry had earlier informed the bureau that the current situation in Libya was not conducive for Sri Lankans to continue working there.

Randeniya said that based on the advice given by the ministry, a decision had been taken to suspend sending Sri Lankans to Libya for employment.

"Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera had issued instructions to suspend sending Sri Lankans to work in Libya until further notice," Randeniya said.

He said the country's citizens have been advised not to make any payments towards obtaining employment in Libya until the situation there improves.

Cases of assassinations and kidnappings targeting politicians, security officials and their family members have increased in Libya as authorities attempt to crack down on armed groups.

Recently, a Jordanian diplomatic convoy in Tripoli was attacked and the country's ambassador was abducted.

The UN Security Council has, meanwhile, called on the international community to support Libya's peaceful transition to democracy.