Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday declared a state of emergency, the second in five weeks amid mass anti-government protests demanding.

According to AFP, a spokesman for the president said he invoked the tough laws to "ensure public order" after trade unions staged a nationwide strike Friday demanding his resignation over a worsening economic crisis.

Earlier, police used teargas and water cannons to disperse students who attempted to storm parliament.

The state of emergency gives security forces sweeping powers to deal with protesters, and allows the deployment of troops.

"The President used his executive powers to invoke emergency regulations to ensure the maintenance of essential services and public order," the president's spokesman said.

(With input from agencies)