Explanation:

Let’s break it down:

- Dileep Padgaonkar

He was a respected Indian journalist, best known for being editor of The Times of India. No record of him winning the Sri Lanka Rathna award.

- Khushwant Singh

Famous Indian writer and journalist, but again, not the recipient of this particular Sri Lankan honor.

- Vinod Mehta

Another admired Indian journalist who edited Outlook magazine—but no link to the Sri Lanka Rathna either.

- Narasimhan Ram

Here’s the thing: N. Ram, an accomplished journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Hindu, is indeed the first Indian national to win the ‘Sri Lanka Rathna’ award. This award is given to non-nationals for exceptional service to Sri Lanka, and N. Ram was honored for his contributions to journalism and his efforts to build India-Sri Lanka relations.

The correct answer is option 4: Narasimhan Ram.