Sri Lanka, Aug. 14 -- Commercial Bank of Ceylon Group's second-quarter net profit rose 8 percent from a year earlier, as loan growth and a turnaround in trading income helped counter a near-tripling of impairment charges and higher operating costs.

The group reported profit after tax of Rs. 17.49 billion for the three months ended June 30, up from Rs. 16.19 billion a year earlier, according to interim financial statements filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Profit attributable to equity holders increased 7.8 percent to Rs. 17.21 billion, while basic earnings per share rose to Rs. 10.41 from Rs. 9.80. Profit before tax grew at a slower 4.8 percent to Rs. 25.42 billion.

The quarter also saw the group's deposit base cross Rs. 3 trilli...